Resveratrol Can Be Stable in a Medium Containing Fetal Bovine Serum with Pyruvate but Shortens the Lifespan of Human Fibroblastic Hs68 Cells.

This study is aimed at developing a method that can inhibit resveratrol (Res) degradation in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) and at evaluating the effects of Res on the replicative lifespan of Hs68 cells. We hypothesized that Res can extend the lifespan of Hs68 cells if we can inhibit the oxidative degradation of Res in the medium. We found that the addition of ≥5 U/mL SOD to the medium could completely inhibit Res degradation in DMEM. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) contained 29.3 ± 1.1 U/mL of SOD activity. FBS could prevent Res degradation in the medium through SOD activity and Res-FBS interaction, but the regular FBS concentration (i.e., 10% FBS) exhibited an insufficient ability to completely inhibit Res degradation. We found that pyruvate (1 mM) could potentiate SOD to scavenge superoxide at approximately 2.2-fold. Thus, 10% FBS combined with pyruvate (1 mM) could completely inhibit Res degradation. When Res was not degraded, it still shortened the lifespan of Hs68 cells. Overall, the proposed method involving 10% FBS combined with pyruvate (1 mM) could completely prevent Res degradation. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, Res could induce the shortening of the lifespan of Hs68 cells. The stability of Res analogs (i.e., oxy-Res and acetyl-Res) in the medium and their effects on the lifespan of Hs68 cells were also investigated.

Comparing the functional components, SOD-like activities, antimutagenicity, and nutrient compositions of Phellinus igniarius and Phellinus linteus mushrooms.

Many species of the genus Phellinus possess beneficial properties, including antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and antimutagenic effects. Phenolic compounds and polysaccharides are two kinds of bioactive compounds; however, few studies have compared the differences between Phellinus igniarius and Phellinus linteus in their functional components, functional activities, and nutrient compositions. Herein, the proximate compositions and microelements of the fruiting body of P. igniarius and P. linteus were determined. The fruiting body of P. igniarius and P. linteus were extracted by boiling water [water extract of P. igniarius (WEPI) and P. linteus (WEPL)]. The contents of total phenolics and polysaccharides, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and antimutagenic activities of WEPI and WEPL, were compared. We found that WEPI was rich in phenolics and polysaccharides and had higher SOD-like activity than WEPL. Nutrient compositions were mainly different in minerals, whereas anitmutagenicity was similar. All of these results suggested that P. igniarius has greater potential for the development of antioxidant and immunomodulating food products than P. linteus.

Galangin Prevents Acute Hepatorenal Toxicity in Novel Propacetamol-Induced Acetaminophen-Overdosed Mice.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes severe liver and kidney damage. APAP-induced liver injury (AILI) represents the most frequent cause of drug-induced liver failure. APAP is relatively insoluble and can only be taken orally; however, its prodrug, propacetamol, is water soluble and usually injected directly. In this study, we examined the time-dependent effects of AILI after propacetamol injection in mice. After analyses of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and liver histopathology, we demonstrated that a novel AILI mouse model can be established by single propacetamol injection. Furthermore, we compared the protective and therapeutic effects of galangin with a known liver protective extract, silymarin, and the only clinical agent for treating APAP toxicity, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), at the same dose in the model mice. We observed that galangin and silymarin were more effective than NAC for protecting against AILI. However, only NAC greatly improved both the survival time and rate consequent to a lethal dose of propacetamol. To decipher the hepatic protective mechanism(s) of galangin, galangin pretreatment significantly decreased the hepatic oxidative stress, increased hepatic glutathione level, and decreased hepatic microsomal CYP2E1 levels induced by propacetamol injection. In addition, propacetamol injection also reproduced the probability of APAP-induced kidney injury (AIKI), appearing similar to a clinical APAP overdose. Only galangin pretreatment showed the protective effect of AIKI. Thus, we have established a novel mouse model for AILI and AIKI using a single propacetamol injection. We also demonstrated that galangin provides significant protection against AILI and AIKI in this mouse model.

Alkylamides of Acmella oleracea.

Phytochemical investigation of the flowers of Acmella oleracea had resulted in the isolation of one new alkylamide, (2E,5Z)-N-isobutylundeca-2,5-diene-8,10-diynamide (1), together with four known analogues (2-5). The structures of these compounds were determined by the interpretation of spectroscopic methods, especially NMR technologies (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY). In addition, a convenient method for concentrating the alkylamide-rich fraction and analyzing fingerprint profile of A. oleracea was established.

Chemical constituents and bioactivities of Clinacanthus nutans aerial parts.

Four new sulfur-containing compounds, named clinamides A-C (1-3), and 2-cis-entadamide A (4), were isolated together with three known compounds from the bioactive ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Clinacanthus nutans. These secondary metabolites possess sulfur atoms and acrylamide functionalities. The structures of the isolated components were established by interpretation of their spectroscopic data, especially 1D and 2D NMR.

Downregulated cardiac annexin VI mRNA and protein levels in chronically fibrillating human atria.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the expression and distribution of atrial annexin VI between patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR). METHODS: Atrial appendages were obtained during cardiac surgery from 20 patients with chronic AF and 34 matched controls in SR. The expression and distribution of annexin VI were analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunoconfocal microscopy. RESULTS: In the AF group, compared to SR, the mRNA was reduced to <35% and the protein to <50% in amount (for each atrium, all p < 0.01). Immunoconfocal microscopy confirmed the downregulation of annexin VI protein in AF and demonstrated the colocalization of annexin VI with both Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers and L-type Ca(2+) channels in the sarcolemma, but not with ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial annexin VI, spatially colocalized with both Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers and L-type Ca(2+) channels in the myocyte membrane, is downregulated during chronic AF.

Gene expression analysis in LLC-PK1 renal tubular cells by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP): correlation of homologous human genes with renal response.

We used human DNA microarray to explore the differential gene expression profiling of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-stimulated renal tubular epithelial kidney cells (LLC-PK1) in order to understand the biological effect of ANP on renal kidney cell's response. Gene expression profiling revealed 807 differentially expressed genes, consisting of 483 up-regulated and 324 down-regulated genes. The bioinformatics tool was used to gain a better understanding of differentially expressed genes in porcine genome homologous with human genome and to search the gene ontology and category classification, such as cellular component, molecular function and biological process. Four up-regulated genes of ATP1B1, H3F3A, ITGB1 and RHO that were typically validated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis serve important roles in the alleviation of renal hypertrophy as well as other related effects. Therefore, the human array can be used for gene expression analysis in pig kidney cells and we believe that our findings of differentially expressed genes served as genetic markers and biological functions can lead to a better understanding of ANP action on the renal protective system and may be used for further therapeutic application.

Immunoglobulin E and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with different stages of coronary artery diseases.

The aims of this study were to identify levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in patients with different stages of coronary artery diseases. IgE, MMP-9, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by fluorescence enzyme immunoassay, gelatin zymography, and autoanalyzer in normal subjects (n = 40), patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP, n = 40), patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP, n = 40), patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n = 40), or post-CABG-surgery of those acute myocardial infarction (P-CABG, n = 40). Compared with normal subjects, increased IgE but unchanged MMP-9, CPK, LDH were found in SAP group and UAP group, whereas IgE, MMP-9, CPK and LDH levels were all significantly increased in AMI group. IgE, MMP-9, CPK and LDH levels in P-CABG group were significantly reduced, compared with AMI group, and were similar to those in normal subjects. Cholesterol, LDL, HDL and TG were not significantly changed in all groups. We suggest that serum total IgE can be an early marker of coronary artery disease and MMP-9 is a marker of acute myocardial infarction.

Toxicogenomics of A375 human malignant melanoma cells treated with arbutin.

Although arbutin is a natural product and widely used as an ingredient in skin care products, its effect on the gene expression level of human skin with malignant melanoma cells is rarely reported. We aim to investigate the genotoxic effect of arbutin on the differential gene expression profiling in A375 human malignant melanoma cells through its effect on tumorigenesis and related side-effect. The DNA microarray analysis provided the differential gene expression pattern of arbutin-treated A375 cells with the significant changes of 324 differentially expressed genes, containing 88 up-regulated genes and 236 down-regulated genes. The gene ontology of differentially expressed genes was classified as belonging to cellular component, molecular function and biological process. In addition, four down-regulated genes of AKT1, CLECSF7, FGFR3, and LRP6 served as candidate genes and correlated to suppress the biological processes in the cell cycle of cancer progression and in the downstream signaling pathways of malignancy of melanocytic tumorigenesis.

Correlations among serum calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels in the elderly in southern Taiwan.

This study correlates serum vitamin D levels to related hormones and dietary intakes among 57 elderly Chinese above the age of 65 who were living in the same community in rural Southern Taiwan (Pingtung) and who had no conditions or drug intake known to interfere with the metabolism of vitamin D. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, medications, and dietary intake were collected via questionnaires. Venous blood samples were collected for analyses of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels. Our results showed subjects in this study to have normal mean values of serum 25(OH)D, PTH and calcium levels. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 36.21 (+/- 6.37) ng/ml, the mean serum PTH level 29.24 (+/- 18.62) pg/ml and the mean serum calcium level 9.14 (+/- 0.52) mg/dl. While the mean serum 25(OH)D and calcium values were not found to be significantly different between men and women, the mean serum PTH level was significantly higher in women (33.42 +/- 20.00 pg/ml) than in men (23.07 +/- 14.66 pg/ml) (p <.05), and serum PTH levels were significantly negatively correlated to serum calcium (r = -.33, p <.05) but not 25(OH)D (r = -.21). A higher intake of calcium was significantly associated with higher serum calcium levels (r =.29, p <.05), but not with serum 25(OH)D levels. Results from this study suggested that the elderly people living in Pingtung, a particularly sunny region, had normal serum 25(OH)D levels. The fact that the elderly women studied had higher serum PTH levels and that these levels were negatively correlated to serum calcium levels suggests that a higher PTH level in the elderly women may be related to susceptibility for osteoporosis. In an effort to provide optimal nursing care for the elderly by minimizing hip fractures and related morbidity, further nursing studies are needed to study the effects of the environment, dietary intake and bone metabolism.