Investigating the Protective Role of Biochaga Drug on Structural Changes of Bovine Serum Albumin in the Presence of Methyl tert-butyl Ether.

BACKGROUND: The health benefits of natural products have a long history. Chaga (Inonotus obliques) is used in traditional medicine and is an essential antioxidant for protecting the body from oxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced routinely due to metabolic processes. However, environmental pollution factors such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) can increase oxidative stress in the human body. MTBE is widely used as a fuel oxygenator that can harm health. The widespread use of MTBE has posed significant threats to the environment by polluting environmental resources, including groundwater. This compound can accumulate in the bloodstream by inhaling polluted air, with a strong affinity for blood proteins. The primary mechanism of MTBE's harmful effects is ROS production. The use of antioxidants may help reduce MTBE oxidation conditions. The present study proposes that biochaga, as an antioxidant, can reduce MTBE damage in the bovine serum albumin (BSA) structure. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study investigated the role of different concentrations of biochaga in the structural change of BSA in the presence of MTBE by biophysical methods such as UV-Vis, fluorescence, FTIR spectroscopy, DPPH radical inhibition method, aggregation test, and molecular docking. Research at the molecular level is critical to investigate the structural change of proteins by MTBE and the protective effect of the ideal dose (2.5 µg/ml) of biochaga. CONCLUSION: the results of spectroscopic examinations showed that the concentration of 2.5 µg/ml of biochaga has the least destructive effect on the structure of BSA in the presence and absence of MTBE, and it can play as an antioxidant.

Protective role of selenium on structural change of human hemoglobin in the presence of vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with a pleasant odor capable of entering the body through oral or inhalation routes. Extensive studies on this compound indicated that it is a carcinogen, and Vinyl chloride exposure can result in a specific type of cancer in vinyl chloride workers. Whereas hemoglobin plays a vital role in oxygen transfer throughout the body, in a molecular aspect, the effect of vinyl chloride on human hemoglobin has not been studied. Furthermore, selenium as an antioxidant is a vital factor for the health of humans and animals. Then this research investigated the effect of the antioxidant capability of selenium at the same concentrations in blood on the interaction between vinyl chloride and hemoglobin. UV-visible, Fourier-transform infrared, chemiluminescence, and fluorescence spectroscopies were employed. The results indicated the destruction of hemoglobin structure in different concentrations of vinyl chloride. At the same time, the antioxidant effect of selenium inhibited the destructive impact of vinyl chloride on hemoglobin structure.

Effects of prolonged exposure to ELF-EMF on HERVs expression in human melanoma cells.

The Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient remnants of exogenous retroviral infections. Their abnormal activation is associated with several diseases, such as cancer and autoimmunity. Epigenetic and environmental factors are probably playing essential roles in the expression of these elements. This study aimed to examine the 96-hour effects of ELF-EMF on HERV-H, K, and W expression in human melanoma cells. SK-MEL-37 cells (the human skin malignant melanoma) were continuously exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz) at 1.5 and 3 mT intensity for 96 hours. Following mRNA extraction, the expression level of HERV-H, K, and W was assessed by qPCR. According to our results, exposure to ELF-EMF intensities for 96 hours could significantly downregulate HERV-H, K, and W env gene expression (P<0.001). Our obtained data suggest that low intensity and long-term exposure to ELF-EMF may pave using this type of radiation as a novel therapeutic approach by neutralizing the HERVs upregulated expression in melanoma cells.

Insights in the biology of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields exposure on human health.

The extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) are generated by electrical devices and power systems (1 to 300 Hz). In recent decades, exposure to ELF-EMF has emerged potential concerns on public health. Here, we discuss recent progress in the understanding of ELF-EMF biology with a focus on mechanisms of ELF-EMF-mediated disease and summarize the results of more recent experimental and epidemiological studies of ELF-EMF exposure effects on cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, and reproductive disorders. Current views on genomic instability effects, as well as scientific evidence about ELF-EMF therapy, are put forth. According to our literature review, exposure to ELF-EMF has an adverse biological effect depending on the current intensity, strength of the magnetic field, and duration of exposure. Accumulated epidemiologic evidence indicates a correlation between exposure to ELF-EMF and childhood cancer incidence, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and miscarriage. However, adult cancer does not show augmented risk caused by the ELF-EMF. Also, no consistent evidence exists in cardiovascular disease mortality due to ELF-EMF exposure. There is a lack of comprehensive mechanisms for explaining the biological effect of ELF-EMF. Eventually, more studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of these magnetic fields.

Interaction of insulin with methyl tert-butyl ether promotes molten globule-like state and production of reactive oxygen species.

Interaction of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) with proteins is a new look at its potential adverse biological effects. When MTBE is released to the environment it enters the blood stream through inhalation, and could affect the properties of various proteins. Here we investigated the interaction of MTBE with insulin and its effect on insulin structural changes. Our results showed that insulin formed a molten globule (MG)-like structure in the presence of 8 µM MTBE under physiological pH. The insulin structural changes were studied using spectroscopy methods, viscosity calculation, dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. To delineate the mechanisms involved in MTBE-protein interactions, the formation of reactive oxygen specious (ROS) and formation of protein aggregates were measured. The chemiluminscence experiments revealed an increase in ROS production in the presence of MTBE especially in the MG-like state. These results were further confirmed by the aggregation tests, which indicated more aggregation of insulin at 40 µM MTBE compared with 8 µM. Thus, the formation of initial aggregates and exposure of the hydrophobic patches upon formation of the MG-like state in the presence of MTBE drives protein oxidation and ROS generation.