Fluorescence of putative chromophores in Skh-1 and citrate-soluble calf skin collagens.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Fluorescence of Skh-1 hairless mouse and calf skin acid-soluble type I collagens are envelopes of several bands putatively due to tyrosine (excitation/emission peak at 275/300 nm), dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa; 280/325 nm), tyrosine aggregate (285/360 nm), dityrosine 325/400 nm), and advanced glycation end (AGE) product (370/450 nm), respectively. As these fluorophores can be markers of pathological conditions, we wish to present further evidence for or against these assignments. METHODS: We analysed intact type I mouse collagens and AGE by conventional fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and borate quenching. RESULTS: The relative amount of each fluorophore depends on the collagen sample. Acid- or enzyme-hydrolysis results in loss of fluorescence intensity at 350-400 nm, and enhanced emission 400-500 nm which could be reproduced by controlled dopa oxidation. Borate buffer quenches fluorescence at lambda>400 nm from intact collagens, dityrosine, dopa, and oxidized dopa but does not quench tyrosine or AGE fluorescence. CONCLUSION: Collagen fluorescence depends on its source and previous history. The data indicate that collagen fluorescence is derived from tyrosine, dopa, interacting tyrosine residues, covalent dityrosine, and dopa oxidation product(s), but not AGE.

Toward understanding the influence of soil metals and sulfate content on plant thiols.

Plants respond to increased concentrations of metals by a number of mechanisms, including chelation with phytochelatins (PCs). Soil specimens and plants (Veronica anagalis-aquatica, Typha domingensis, Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album, Rumex dentatus, Amaranthus gracilis, Chenopodium murale, Inula viscosa) leaves were collected from two sites in northern Jordan and subsequently metals (cadmium, copper, and lead), sulfate, and PC (from leaves) levels were determined. One of these sites was contaminated with metals and the other served as a control site. The contaminated site had elevated cadmium, copper, lead, and sulfate levels. This increase of metal and sulfate levels in the soil at the contaminated site correlated with a rise in plant total glutathione (GSH(T)) and cysteine (CYS(T)). These increases were not attributed to an elevation in total phytochelatin levels. However, a significant increase in the ratio of short-chain phytochelatins to the total phytochelatin stores was observed. The individual effects of metals and sulfate on glutathione, short-chain PCs and long-chain PCs levels were dissimilar.

Effect of palm oil on blood pressure, endothelial function and oxidative stress.

The pathogenesis of hypertension has been associated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. We have previously shown that palm oil (PO), with an unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio close to one and rich in antioxidants vitamins, reduces oxidative stress-induced hypertension in normal rats. Here, we investigated the cardiovascular effects of natural vitamin-rich PO using the Dahl Salt-sensitive hypertension model. Male rats were fed either a high salt (8%NaCl, HS) or low salt (0.3% NaCl, LS) diet with or without PO (Carotino, 5 g/kg daily) for four weeks. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, blood flow and vascular resistance, vascular reactivity in vitro as well as remodelling of second-order mesenteric arteries were measured. Plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin, thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) and isoprostane (ISO), were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma, heart and kidney GSH and GSSG levels were analyzed by HPLC and aortic superoxide ((.)O(2)-) production by fluorescence spectrometry. High salt induced an elevation in MAP that was associated with decreased NO, prostacyclin and GSH: GSSG ratio. Plasma ISO and TXA(2), aortic and renal vascular resistance as well as aortic (.)O(2)- were increased. Palm oil reduced MAP, plasma TXA(2) and vascular resistance of the renal and aortic arteries, and increased the GSH: GSSG ratio and NO in the LS group. The HS-induced elevation in ISO and (.)O(2)- production and the reductions in kidney GSH: GSSG ratio, were attenuated by PO. The effect of PO was also associated with a reduced vessel wall-thickness: lumen diameter ratio and a greater relaxant effect of mesenteric arteries to acetylcholine, in the LS group. The mortality associated with HS was reduced by PO. Thus, palm oil attenuates the progression of salt-induced hypertension and mortality, via mechanisms involving modulation of endothelial function and reduction in oxidative stress.

Polyamines protect against radiation-induced oxidative stress.

Astronauts and cosmonauts are exposed to a wide variety of different hazards while in space that include radiation, which presents one of the most critical barriers to long-term missions. A major deleterious effect directly associated with ionizing radiation is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as peroxides and hydroxyl radicals. The free radicals generated by ultraviolet (UV) or ionizing radiation can attack cellular lipids, proteins and DNA. Endogenous free radical scavengers such as glutathione and the polyamines (e.g, spermidine and spermine) can inhibit the action of ROS. In particular, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the enzyme involved in heme protein metabolism, can provide antioxidant protection through the production of the antioxidant bilirubin. Furthermore, polyamines have been shown to indirectly increase HO-1 content and antioxidant protection. The beta2-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol has been shown to stimulate polyamine synthesis and by extension, might provide a margin of antioxidant protection through increasing HO-1 content. However, it is unclear whether the polyamines are acting as a tertiary messengers for antioxidant protection in the be beta2-adrenoceptor signal transduction pathway. The purpose of this study was to study the role of the polyamine pathway in attenuating free radical-induced damage.

Amlodipine attenuates oxidative stress-induced hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Dihydropyridine Ca2+-blockers, frequently used as antihypertensive and antianginal agents, have been found to exert potent antioxidant and cytoprotective activities against free radical-mediated vascular injury. METHODS: In the current study we examined the effect of amlodipine (AMLOD) on oxidative stress-induced hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats administered buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione (GSH) synthase inhibitor, in the drinking water. The control animals received drug-free water. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. Plasma levels of total 8-isoprostane, thromboxane A2, prostacyclin, nitric oxide, and aortic cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma, kidney, and heart GSH were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Administration of BSO significantly increased BP, isoprostane, and thromboxane A2, whereas GSH, PGI2, and cAMP were reduced. When given alone, AMLOD alone reduced BP and the plasma levels of isoprostane and thromboxane A2, and elevated prostacyclin, nitric oxide, cGMP, and cAMP. When administered with BSO, AMLOD reversed the BSO-induced elevation of BP, isoprostane, and thromboxane A2 as well as the reduction in prostacyclin, cAMP, and cardiac GSH levels. CONCLUSIONS: The antihypertensive effect of amlodipine involves a reduction in oxidative stress, which appears to be mediated in part by the prostanoid endothelium-derived factors and nitric oxide.

Relation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene to plasma nitric oxide level, endothelial function, and blood pressure in African Americans.

BACKGROUND: The role of eNOS gene polymorphisms on plasma nitrite or nitrate (NOx) level, endothelial function, and blood pressure (BP) remains unclear. METHODS: We estimated the relationship of eNOS polymorphisms (the T(-786)C in the 5'-flanking promoter region, T(-786)C; 27-bp repeat in intron 4, eNOS4; and Glu298Asp in exon 7, G894T) with plasma NOx level, brachial endothelial function assessed by ultrasound measure of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and BP in 60 healthy African Americans, 30 men and 30 women aged 18 to 73 years. RESULTS: Among them, 73.1%, 23.9%, and 3.0% carried TT, TC, and CC of T(-786)C, respectively, 14.5%, 27.5%, 53.6%, and 1.4% carried aa, ab, bb, and bc of eNOS4 polymorphism, respectively, and 70.4%, 23.9%, and 5.6% carried GG, GT, and TT of G894T, respectively. G894T and eNOS4 were observed in linkage disequilibrium. Mean values of age, plasma NOx, FMD, systolic and diastolic BPs were not significantly different (P >.05) by eNOS polymorphisms. Plasma NO(x) level was found to be associated with systolic BP (r = 0.51, P =.03), and diastolic BP (r = 0.41, P =.08), but not with FMD, in individuals with "a" allele of eNOS4 polymorphism after adjustment for age, body mass index, serum glucose, and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: We reveal a positive association between plasma NOx level and BP in normotensive African Americans who carry the "a" allele of eNOS4. Because the frequency of the rare allele "a" is significantly higher in African Americans than in other ethnic groups, this finding may provide a clue to understanding the genetic susceptibility to hypertension in African Americans.

The role of oxidative stress in salt-induced hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of endothelial function during hypertension is associated with increased production of superoxide radicals and reduced antioxidants. We investigated the involvement of oxidative stress in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) and salt-resistant (SR) rats. METHODS: For a 2-week period, male rats were fed either high salt (HS; 8% sodium chloride) or low salt (LS; 0.3% sodium chloride) diets. Before and weekly on the diets, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. At the end of the experiment, plasma and tissue samples were collected for analysis of nitric oxide, prostacyclin, glutathione, and isoprostane. RESULTS: The MAP was increased in SS rats on HS diet, but not in those on a LS diet or in SR rats on either diet. Plasma levels of nitric oxide were reduced in SS rats on HS diet. Plasma prostacyclin levels in SS rats on either diet were lower than SR on LS diet. Increased dietary salt reduced plasma prostacyclin levels in SR, but not in SS rats. Plasma total 8-isoprostane was elevated in both SS and SR rats on HS diet compared with either strain on LS diet. Plasma levels of total glutathione were reduced in SS compared with SR rats, regardless of the level of dietary salt intake. The whole blood ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) as well as the kidney total glutathione were lower in SS rats on HS diet. Aortic superoxide production in both strains on HS diet was increased compared with the animals on LS diet. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HS diet may indirectly induce endothelial dysfunction through intermediate mechanisms that are associated with oxidative stress.

Inhibition of the thrombogenic and inflammatory properties of antiphospholipid antibodies by fluvastatin in an in vivo animal model.

OBJECTIVE: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have thrombogenic properties in vivo, through their interactions with soluble coagulation factors and their ability to modulate the functions of cells involved in coagulation homeostasis. These antibodies have also been shown to enhance the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells (ECs) in vivo. New lipophilic statins such as fluvastatin have antiinflammatory and antithrombogenic effects. This study uses an in vivo mouse model to investigate whether fluvastatin has an effect on decreasing both the adhesion of leukocytes to ECs and the thrombus formation induced by aPL. METHODS: Two groups of CD-1 male mice, each comprising approximately 18 mice, were fed either normal saline solution or 15 mg/kg fluvastatin for 15 days. Each of the 2 groups was further subdivided to receive either purified IgG from patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (IgG-APS) or normal IgG from healthy subjects. Analysis of thrombus dynamics was performed in treated and control mice, using a standardized thrombogenic injury procedure, and the area (size) of the thrombus was measured. Adhesion of leukocytes to ECs was analyzed with a microcirculation model of exposed cremaster muscle. Baseline and posttreatment soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IgG-APS mice treated with fluvastatin showed significantly smaller thrombi, a reduced number of adherent leukocytes, and decreased levels of sICAM-1 compared with IgG-APS animals treated with placebo. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that fluvastatin significantly diminishes aPL-mediated thrombosis and EC activation in vivo. These results may have important implications for the design of new treatment strategies aimed at preventing recurrent thrombosis in patients with APS.

Effect of losartan on oxidative stress-induced hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension induced by oxidative stress has been demonstrated in normal rats. In the current study, we investigated the effect of the oral AT(1) receptor blocker losartan (10 mmol/kg/day) on oxidative stress, induced by glutathione (GSH) depletion (using buthionine-sulfoximine, BSO, 30 mmol/L/day in the drinking water), in Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography and the plasma levels of total 8-isoprostane, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, thromboxane A(2), angiotensin II, aldosterone, and aortic cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma, heart, and kidney GSH were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Aortic and renal superoxide production was determined by fluorescence spectrometry. RESULTS: In the BSO-treated group, MAP, angiotensin II, isoprostane, thromboxane A(2), and superoxide were elevated; whereas prostacyclin, GSH, cAMP, and cGMP were reduced, compared to control. Losartan alone reduced MAP, and increased renal GSH, plasma nitric oxide, angiotensin II, aldosterone, and aortic cGMP. When administered concurrently with BSO, losartan reversed the BSO-induced elevation of MAP, superoxide, and thromboxane A(2) as well as the reduction in prostacyclin and aortic cAMP levels, but did not significantly alter the reduction in GSH or the elevation in angiotensin II and aldosterone. CONCLUSIONS: Losartan attenuates BSO-induced hypertension, which appears to be mediated, in part, by angiotensin II and the prostanoid endothelium-derived factors.

Changes in muscle proteins and spermidine content in response to unloading and clenbuterol treatment.

Anabolic agents such clenbuterol (Cb) are useful tools for probing the mechanisms by which muscles respond to disuse. Cb was examined under different loading conditions with respect to its effects on muscle mass, protein (myofibrillar and cytosolic), and spermidine content in mature male rats. Compared with control treatment, Cb significantly increased loaded and unloaded soleus, plantaris, and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) mass. Likewise, Cb significantly increased loaded and unloaded soleus (24.8 and 21.6%, respectively), plantaris (12.1 and 22.9%, respectively), and EDL (22.4 and 13.3%, respectively) myofibrillar protein content. After unloading, cytosolic proteins significantly increased in the EDL but decreased in the soleus and plantaris. Cb significantly increased cytosolic protein levels in all loaded muscles, while only causing increases in unloaded soleus. When compared with controls, unloading caused significant reductions in spermidine levels in the soleus (40.4%) and plantaris (35.9%) but caused increases in the EDL (54.8%). In contrast, Cb increased spermidine levels in unloaded soleus (42.9%), plantaris (102.8%), and EDL (287%). In loaded muscles, Cb increased spermidine levels in all three muscles, but to a lesser degree than under unloading conditions. Nonlinear regression analyses indicated that the plantaris behaves like a slow-twitch muscle under unloading conditions and like a fast-twitch muscle when loaded. This suggests that the responses of these muscles to unloading and (or) Cb treatment might be influenced by factors beyond fiber type alone.

Acute inhibition of glutathione biosynthesis alters endothelial function and blood pressure in rats.

The cardiovascular and biochemical responses during acute oxidative stress induced by D,L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and vascular reactivity were measured after subcutaneous injection of BSO (4 mmol/kg). Control rats received saline. Levels of GSH and GSSG in blood and tissues as well as renal superoxide were determined. Nitric oxide, prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2) in plasma and aorta, and isoprostane in plasma were also measured. Blood pressure was elevated at 24 h (121+/-2 vs. 104+/-2 mm Hg), with increased reactivity to phenylephrine (by a 59+/-4 vs. 45+/-2 mm Hg change), and impaired response to sodium nitroprusside (by a -35+/-2 vs. -63+/-2 mm Hg change), P<0.05. The GSH:GSSG ratio was reduced at 8 and 24 h in blood (4.1+/-0.6 and 5.1+/-0.3, respectively, vs. 8.5+/-0.2), and at 8 h in the aorta (1.0+/-0.2 vs. 2.9+/-0.5), heart (1.6+/-0.3 vs. 2.3+/-0.1) and kidney (2.1+/-0.2 vs. 3.7+/-0.4), P<0.05. Superoxide fluorescence was increased at 24 h via NADH (4131+/-194 vs. 2853+/-199), NADPH (2874+/-272 vs.1479+/-257) and succinate (2475+/-133 vs. 1594+/-2150), P<0.05. Plasma prostacyclin was reduced at 8 and 24 h (36+/-4 and 52+/-13, respectively, vs. 310+/-44 pg/ml), P<0.001, whereas nitric oxide was reduced at 24 h (6.4+/-1 vs. 22+/-2 microM), P<0.01. Also at 24 h, thromboxane A(2) was increased both in plasma (374+/-154 vs. 61+/-10 pg/ml) and the aorta (174.4+/-38 vs. 27+/-3.4 pg/mg), P<0.05. Thus, acute BSO-induced oxidative stress alters blood pressure and endothelial function by mechanisms involving increased plasma levels and aortic release of thromboxane A(2) and reduced nitric oxide and prostacyclin.

Effect of palm oil on oxidative stress-induced hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress, associated with increased plasma isoprostane (ISO) and reductions in plasma glutathione (GSH), has been shown to cause severe hypertension in normal rats. Palm oil (PO), with an unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio close to one and rich in antioxidant vitamins, has been investigated for its beneficial effects on arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis. In this study, the effect of PO on oxidative stress induced by inhibition of GSH synthesis (using buthionine sulfoximine [BSO]) was examined. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into two groups and received either natural vitamin-rich PO (Carotino, 5 g/kg daily) or water by gavage. After 4 weeks, they were further divided between receiving either BSO (30 mmol/L/day in the drinking water) or drug-free water for an additional week. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and body weight (BW) were measured before and weekly during the experiment. The levels of plasma ISO, nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin (PGI2), and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) were determined by enzyme immunoassay, and plasma, heart, and kidney GSH by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The PO reduced the age-dependent increase in MAP, and the pressor response to BSO, without changing the HR or BW compared to the BSO and control groups. It also elevated PGI2, NO, and aortic cGMP, but decreased TXA2 and aortic cAMP. In addition, the BSO-induced increase in ISO and TXA2, and the reduction in kidney GSH were attenuated by PO. However, the PO effect on NO, PGI2, cGMP, and TXA2 was partly counteracted by BSO. CONCLUSIONS: Palm oil reduces BSO-induced oxidative stress and attenuates hypertension by mechanisms involving changes in endothelium-derived factors.

Muscle-specific effects of hindlimb suspension and clenbuterol in mature male rats.

Anabolic agents are useful tools for probing the mechanisms by which muscle fibers perceive and respond to disuse. beta(2)-Adrenergic agonists exert protective, and/or reparative, effects on atrophying muscle tissue. The effects of one such agent, clenbuterol (Cb), were examined on muscle mass, total protein content, and myofibrillar protein content in selected hindlimb muscles [adductor longus (ADL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), plantaris (PLAN), soleus (SOL)] of mature male rats, under different loading conditions. Pair-fed rats were divided into four experimental groups: vehicle- and Cb-treated nonsuspended, vehicle- and Cb-treated hindlimb suspended (HLS). Experiments lasted 14 days, during which the rats received subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg Cb or 1 ml/kg vehicle. HLS induced significant atrophy in all muscles, except the EDL, in a generally fiber type-related pattern. However, myofibrillar protein content was affected in a more regional pattern. Cb treatment of nonsuspended rats induced hypertrophy in all muscles, in a generally uniform pattern. However, myofibrillar protein content was affected in a more fiber type-related pattern. Cb treatment of HLS rats reduced or eliminated HLS-induced atrophy in all muscles, in a muscle-specific pattern. Overall, the ADL and SOL were most susceptible to HLS-induced atrophy. The PLAN had the greatest magnitude of Cb-induced sparing of atrophy. The results show that, in mature male rats, Cb exerts anabolic effects that are load-dependent and muscle-specific. Responses to this drug cannot be reliably predicted by fiber-type composition alone.

High performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantitation of total glutathione in plasma.

A simple and widely used homocysteine HPLC procedure was applied for the HPLC identification and quantitation of glutathione in plasma. The method, which utilizes SBDF as a derivatizing agent utilizes only 50 microl of sample volume. Linear quantitative response curve was generated for glutathione over a concentration range of 0.3125-62.50 micromol/l. Linear regression analysis of the standard curve exhibited correlation coefficient of 0.999. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) values were 5.0 and 15 pmol, respectively. Glutathione recovery using this method was nearly complete (above 96%). Intra-assay and inter-assay precision studies reflected a high level of reliability and reproducibility of the method. The applicability of the method for the quantitation of glutathione was demonstrated successfully using human and rat plasma samples.

Effect of hindlimb suspension and clenbuterol treatment on polyamine levels in skeletal muscle.

Polyamines are unbiquitous, naturally occurring small aliphatic, polycationic, endogenous compounds. They are involved in many cellular processes and may serve as secondary or tertiary messengers to hormonal regulation. The relationship of polyamines and skeletal muscle mass of adductor longus, extensor digitorum longus, and gastrocnemius under unloading (hindlimb suspension) conditions was investigated. Unloading significantly affected skeletal muscle polyamine levels in a fiber-type-specific fashion. Under loading conditions, clenbuterol treatment increased all polyamine levels, whereas under unloading conditions, only the spermidine levels were consistently increased. Unloading attenuated the anabolic effects of clenbuterol in predominately slow-twitch muscles (adductor longus), but had little impact on clenbuterol's action as a countermeasure in fast- twitch muscles such as the extensor digitorum longus. Spermidine appeared to be the primary polyamine involved in skeletal muscle atrophy/hypertrophy.