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C S Yang

Publications and source records attributed to C S Yang.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Trace elements burden in geriatric hemodialysis patients: a prospective multicenter collaborative study.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis therapy and the aging process have been reported to interfere with the trace element (TE) status in the body. This multicenter collaborative study on blood levels of TE in geriatric hemodialysis (HD) patients was carried out with an aim to clarify the impact of the aging process and HD therapy on the TE status in such patients. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-one HD patients (65 male, 86 female), all aged over 60 (68.2+/-3.86 y), and 112 elderly controls (58 male, 54 female) with a mean age of 67.5+/-3.03 were enrolled. All patients underwent standard HD for at least 6 months. The artificial kidneys used were hollow-fiber dialyzers of cellulose membranes. Water used for HD was prepared by reverse osmosis. Blood was collected in the morning prior to dialysis and after fasting. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was applied to measure blood levels of Pb, Cd and Hg as well as plasma levels of Cu, Zn and Al. Data are presented as mean +/- SEM. Student's t-test and linear regression were applied for statistics. RESULTS: Our geriatric chronic HD patients showed a marked elevation of blood Al and decreased plasma Zn concentrations. The blood levels of Cu, Cd, Pb and Hg were within normal limits. The blood concentrations of Al, Cu and Pb were significantly higher in HD patients than in the normal elderly controls, whereas Cd and Hg were similar in both groups, and Zn were lower in HD patients. Plasma Zn value decreased as dialysis duration increased, however there was a reversely linear correlation between plasma Zn and age. CONCLUSIONS: This data reported can be regarded as a starting point and may serve as an insight to further studies on TE imbalances in geriatric and chronic HD populations.

Aged↗

Esophageal and gastric cardia epithelial cell proliferation in northern Chinese subjects living in a high-incidence area.

Linxian and the nearby county Huixian, in the Henan province in Northern China, have a very high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Previous studies from these counties have suggested that increased proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells, morphologically manifested as basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) and dysplasia (DYS), is an early indicator of abnormality in persons predisposed to SCC. A high incidence of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (AC) was also found in these areas. To determine proliferation patterns of esophageal and gastric cardia epithelia with normal and different severities of precancerous lesions, we measured proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki-67, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and compared the results. Esophageal biopsies (175) and gastric cardia biopsies (41) were collected from symptom-free subjects in Huixian. Of these, 23 esophageal biopsies were incubated with BrdU. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method was used to detect PCNA, Ki-67, and BrdU. The number of immunostain-positive cells was counted manually. Intense immunostaining for PCNA, Ki-67, and BrdU was observed in the cell nuclei of tissues with normal and different severities of precancerous lesions. With esophageal biopsies, both PCNA and Ki-67 increased significantly as the epithelia progressed from normal to BCH and to DYS. The number of PCNA- and Ki-67-positive cells was three times higher than that of BrdU incorporation in the same category of BCH. With cardia biopsies, the number of Ki-67 positive cells was lower in normal tissue and increased significantly from chronic superficial gastritis to chronic atrophic gastritis to DYS. Staining patterns for PCNA and Ki-67 were correlated with the histopathology of the esophagus. The correlation was not as clear with gastric cardia. BrdU studies appear to be more complicated. The PCNA and Ki-67 methods may be useful for screening high-risk esophageal and gastric cardia cancer subjects, and for monitoring chemoprevention effects.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chemopreventive potential of thiol conjugates of isothiocyanates for lung cancer and a urinary biomarker of dietary isothiocyanates.

Natural and synthetic isothiocyanates (ITCs) are versatile chemopreventive agents in many animal systems. We have shown that phenethyl ITC (PEITC) and 6-phenylhexyl ITC (PHITC) are potent inhibitors against lung tumorigenesis induced by tobacco nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in both mouse and rat. The mechanism by which these ITCs inhibited lung tumorigenesis is attributed to their ability to decrease cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme activities involved in the activation of NNK. Recently, we have found that thiol conjugates of ITCs inhibit P450 enzymes and are effective inhibitors of lung tumorigenesis. This is significant because conjugation with cellular thiols is the major route of ITC metabolism via the mercapturic acid pathway in rodents and humans. The thiol conjugates are less pungent and potentially less toxic, and they are more soluble and chemically less reactive than ITCs. These properties raise the prospect of substituting thiol conjugates for ITCs as chemopreventive agents. Furthermore, although ample rodent studies have established that ITCs inhibit tumorigenesis, the protective role of dietary ITCs against human cancers has not yet been established. As a prerequisite for such human studies, we have developed an HPLC-based assay, based on the condensation reaction of ITCs or conjugates with 1,2-benzenedithiol, for measuring a cyclocondensation product in human urine as an uptake biomarker of total ITCs. This assay was validated using urine samples from subjects who had ingested a known amount of watercress or mustard in a controlled diet. The assay is convenient and rapid, showing promise for analyzing urine samples obtained from population-based studies. Results from two such studies are presented to illustrate the potential application of this biomarker in epidemiologic studies.

Animals↗

Cloning, sequencing, and cDNA-directed expression of the rat renal CYP4A2: arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylation and 11,12-epoxidation by CYP4A2 protein.

20-Hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), the omega-hydroxylation product of arachidonic acid, is the major metabolite produced in the kidney. It has potent biological effects on renal tubular and vascular functions and on the long-term control of arterial pressure. The synthesis of 20-HETE is catalyzed by enzymes of the CYP4A family, among which CYP4A2 is the most abundant isozyme expressed in the kidneys of rats. We have cloned and sequenced the CYP4A2 cDNA from the kidney of Lewis-Wistar rats and directed its expression using baculovirus and Sf9 insect cells. A high level of expression of CYP4A2 was evident by Northern, Western, and spectral analyses revealing a P450 content of 0.3 nmol/mg microsomal protein. To study CYP4A2-catalyzed arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylation, Sf9 cells were coinfected with CYP4A2 and NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (OR) recombinant viruses. CYP4A2/OR membranes metabolized lauric acid at a high rate (7 and 5.5 nmol/min/nmol P450 in the presence and absence of b5, respectively). However, arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylase activity was barely detectable. When purified OR was added to the membranes expressing CYP4A2 protein, a concentration-dependent production of 20-HETE was observed. Maximal synthesis of 20-HETE of 0.89 nmol/min/nmol P450 was achieved at OR:CYP4A2 ratio of 14:1. The omega-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid was dependent on the presence of b5. Furthermore, increasing OR concentrations yielded additional arachidonic acid metabolite identified by GC/MS as 11,12-EET. Microsomes prepared from isolated renal microvessels selectively expressed CYP4A2 protein and readily metabolized arachidonic acid to two major metabolites, 20-HETE and 11,12-DHET, the hydrolytic metabolite of 11, 12-EET. It is suggested that CYP4A2 functions as the renal microvessel arachidonate omega-hydroxylase and that it can also catalyze the 11,12-epoxidation of arachidonic acid.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

In vivo, continuous and automatic monitoring of extracellular ascorbic acid by microdialysis and on-line liquid chromatography.

A system for in vivo, automatic, continuous monitoring of organ extracellular ascorbic acid in anesthetized rat is described. This system involves microdialysis perfusion and a LC system equipped with an electrochemical detector. Microdialysate, eluted from a microdialysis probe implanted in the brain cortex or in the left ventricular myocardium of anesthetized rats was collected in the sample loop of an on-line injector for direct injection onto the LC system. This automated method provides a shortened sample processing time. This system was utilized to investigate the effect of cerebral ischemia on cortex extracellular ascorbic acid and the effect of myocardial ischemia on left ventricular myocardium extracellular ascorbic acid in anesthetized rats. Basal ascorbic acid concentrations in the cortex and left ventricular myocardium ranged from 9.7 to 15.4 microM (mean +/- S.D., 12.7 +/- 2.5 microM from the results of eight rats) and from 9.3 to 36.0 microM (mean +/- S.D., 24.3 +/- 8.9 microM from the results of twelve rats), respectively. Cerebral ischemia significantly elevated ascorbic acid levels in the cortex extracellular space, while myocardial ischemia did not significantly alter ascorbic acid levels in the left ventricular myocardium extracellular space.

Animals↗

Expression and coupling of human cytochrome P450 2E1 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase in dual expression and co-infection systems with baculovirus in insect cells.

In order to study the interaction between human cytochrome P450 2E1 (h2E1) and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase (hOR) in a native membrane environment, we used two approaches to express both h2E1 and hOR in a baculovirus expression system. For a dual-expression system, h2E1 and hOR were coexpressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus carrying both h2E1 and hOR cDNAs (v-h2E1-hOR). The h2E1 cDNA was expressed under the control of the polyhedrin promoter P(Polh), whereas hOR cDNA was expressed under the control of the P10 promoter. The expressed enzymes were catalytically active in the cell membrane preparations. The estimated molar expression ratio of h2E1 to hOR in the membranes was 1:5. The apparent Km and kcat for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) demethylase activity were 145 microM and 2.4 min-1, respectively. When Sf9 cells were co-infected with the dual-expression virus (v-h2E1-hOR) and human cytochrome b5 recombinant virus (v-hb5), a 9-fold decrease in the Km of NDMA demethylase activity (16 microM) was observed in the membrane preparations, whereas the kcat was increased to 4 min-1. In the second approach, recombinant viruses of h2E1 and hOR (v-h2E1 and v-hOR) were used to co-infect the Sf9 cells. In this double-expression system, with a fixed amount of v-h2E1, the expression of h2E1 in the Sf9 cells decreased as the amount of v-hOR increased. Western blot analysis of the membrane preparations showed that the level of hOR increased, but the level of h2E1 decreased with increasing amounts of v-hOR. A corresponding decrease in h2E1 mRNA, however, was not observed. In the presence of human cytochrome b5 (hb5), the optimal h2E1:hOR molar ratio for h2E1 catalytic activity was 1:1. In order to further investigate the hb5 effect on h2E1-catalyzed reactions in the native membranes, we co-infected Sf9 cells with v-h2E1, v-hOR, and v-hb5 and obtained a membrane preparation containing h2E1, hOR, and hb5. Stoichiometric analysis with membrane preparations from double-infection and triple-infection systems revealed that the presence of hb5 decreased NADPH oxidation and H202 formation by 72 and 80%, respectively, but increased product formation from NDMA 13-fold. These results suggest that hb5 enhances the coupling between h2E1 and hOR for product formation. These studies also demonstrate that the baculovirus-insect cell system can produce high levels of expression of functional h2E1, hOR, and hb5 for mechanistic studies.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗

Kinetic analysis of the activation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone by heterologously expressed human P450 enzymes and the effect of P450-specific chemical inhibitors on this activation in human liver microsomes.

The tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is enzymatically activated by the hydroxylation of the alpha-methyl and alpha-methylene groups, leading to the formation of reactive species which can pyridyloxobutylate and methylate DNA, respectively. The present study examined the kinetic parameters of NNK-derived keto alcohol (alpha-methyl hydroxylation), and keto aldehyde (alpha-methylene hydroxylation) formation catalyzed by human P450s heterologously expressed by either the baculovirus-insect cell expression system (P450s 2A6, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) or by stable expression in CHO cells (P450s 3A4 and 2D6) and human B-lymphoblastoid cells (P450 2D6). Membrane preparations of the expressed P450s catalyzed the alpha-hydroxylation of NNK, leading to the formation of keto aldehyde and keto alcohol. Human P450 2A6 showed the lowest KM (118 microM) for the formation of keto aldehyde. A similar KM was observed for keto alcohol formation by expressed P450 2A6, but the kcat was lower than the value obtained for keto aldehyde formation. The addition of exogenous b5 increased the expressed 2A6-dependent NNK hydroxylation activity 2.5-fold for both alpha-hydroxylation products. Human P450s 2E1 and 2D6 exhibited a high capacity for keto alcohol formation; however, their KM values for this reaction were in the millimolar range. Expressed human P450 3A4 oxidized NNK to keto aldehyde also with a high KM. Ten human liver microsomal samples were each shown to activate NNK to keto aldehyde and keto alcohol. A positive correlation coefficient of 0.74 was found between keto aldehyde formation and both coumarin 7-hydroxylation (P450 2A6) and 6 beta-testosterone hydroxylation (3A4) activity in characterized human liver microsomes. Keto alcohol formation showed a significant correlation with ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (P450 1A2) in human liver microsomes. Both coumarin and troleandomycin, specific inhibitors of P450 2A6 and 3A4, respectively, inhibited the formation of keto aldehyde, but inhibited the formation of keto alcohol only slightly in human liver microsomes. Both furafylline, a P450 1A2 inhibitor, and N-nitrosodimethylamine, a P450 2E1 substrate, inhibited the formation of keto alcohol but not keto aldehyde in human liver microsomes. Quinidine, a specific inhibitor of P450 2D6, was not an effective inhibitor of NNK metabolism. These results demonstrate that P450s 2A6 and 3A4 may be important P450s for the activation of NNK to a DNA-methylating agent and keto aldehyde via the alpha-methylene hydroxylation pathway. P450s 1A2, 2E1, and 2D6 are shown to be selective for alpha-methyl hydroxylation of NNK leading to keto alcohol and a DNA-pyridyloxobutylating agent.

Animals↗

New dual electrochemical detector for microbore liquid chromatography. Determination of dopamine and serotonin in rat striatum dialysates.

A new type of liquid chromatographic (LC) dual thin-layer amperometric detector for the simultaneous measurement of trace levels of dopamine and serotonin in microdialysates is described. The concentrations of these analytes in rat dialysates are usually in the sub-nanomolar concentration range (typically, 0.10-5.00 pg in 5-microl dialysates). With this dual electrode, a glass-lined microbore column provides excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and separation. In addition, a three- to five-fold improvement in anodic current or cathodic responses over conventional dual electrodes in microbore LC can be achieved. Due to the irreversible electrochemical properties of some interference peaks, this dual electrode provides reliable measurement of dopamine based on the cathodic signal. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of this assay is 0.02 pg per injection for dopamine or serotonin. This new dual electrode allows the simultaneous measurements of basal dopamine and serotonin in rat striatum dialysates without the use of re-uptake inhibitors in perfusion medium.

Animals↗

The dorsal facial area of the medulla in cats: inhibitory action of serotonin on glutamate release in regulating common carotid blood flow.

Whether glutamate and serotonin would release and interact in the dorsal facial area (DFA) of cat medulla to regulate common carotid arterial (CCA) blood flow was explored by placing a microdialysis probe in DFA and employing high performance liquid chromatographic technique. Glutamate concentration was dose-dependently decreased by perfusion with serotonin, or alaproclate, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin and glutamate concentrations were increased by perfusion with KCl, a depolarizing agent. Furthermore, CCA blood flow was decreased when glutamate concentration was reduced by serotonin or alaproclate perfusion, and conversely increased when glutamate concentration was increased by KCl perfusion. In conclusion, glutamate and serotonin releases in DFA that involve regulation of CCA blood flow are tonically mediated by nerve terminals. The glutamate release is depressed by the serotonin release.

Alanine↗

Induction of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) activation in rat lung microsomes by chronic ethanol consumption and repeated running exercise.

The effects of both chronic ethanol consumption and repeated exercise on metabolism of the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) by rat lung microsomes were investigated. Keto aldehyde production was significantly enhanced 52% and 98%, respectively, by the ethanol and exercise, as was keto alcohol production (72% and 76%). 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) production was significantly enhanced only by the exercise (+32%). The combined treatment enhanced the keto alcohol production by 39%, indicating non-additive effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes by the different treatments. Immunoblot and metabolic studies revealed an increased activity and content of CYP1A2 and CYP2B induced by the ethanol and exercise treatments as well as an induction of CYP2E1 proteins by the ethanol and combined treatments. These results indicate that both ethanol consumption and running exercise enhance NNK activation by increasing the expression of the CYP enzymes responsible for NNK activation.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Inhibition of proliferation and of IL-2 production and utilization in lymphocytes by S-oxalylglutathione.

Previously we have shown that S-oxalins (monothiolesters of oxalic acid) are ubiquitous mammalian metabolites whose concentrations decrease when lymphocytes are stimulated to proliferate. The present study was undertaken to further examine the role of S-oxalins in the proliferation process. When added to lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A, the S-oxalin, S-oxalylglutathione (GS-Ox), inhibited DNA synthesis by 50% when present at ca. 0.15 mM and virtually 100% at 0.5 mM. The inhibition was reversible. The presence of GS-Ox blocked IL-2 production, but addition of IL-2 did not permit DNA synthesis to proceed. GS-Ox also inhibited proliferation of an IL-2-dependent cell line, BT2. In primary lymphocytes GS-Ox reduced IL-2 receptor expression, but not in an IL-2-dependent blast cell line. Overall RNA synthesis and protein synthesis were not significantly altered by GS-Ox. Levels of the positive transcription factor, NF-kappaB, were decreased after incubation of lymphocytes with GS-Ox, but the amount of a negative transcription factor, NREA, was largely unchanged. The results not only provide further evidence that S-oxalins are small-molecule cell proliferation inhibitors, they also clarify to some extent the specific steps in the activation response modulated by S-oxalins.

Animals↗

p53 protein accumulation and gene mutations in multifocal esophageal precancerous lesions from symptom free subjects in a high incidence area for esophageal carcinoma in Henan, China.

BACKGROUND: Multifocal occurrence of precancerous lesions of the esophagus has been observed among individuals in a high incidence area for esophageal carcinoma in Henan Province, China. Results from recent studies suggest that p53 protein accumulation and mutation occur early in the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma. Discordant p53 gene mutations have been observed in invasive carcinoma and preinvasive lesions from a patient with esophageal carcinoma. The p53 alterations in the multifocal precancerous lesions from symptom-free subjects, however, have not been investigated. METHOD: Two biopsy samples, one each from the middle-third and the lower-third of the esophagus, from each subject, were taken from 55 symptom-free subjects in a high incidence area for esophageal cancer in Huixian, Henan Province, China. p53 protein accumulation and p53 gene mutation were analyzed in the multifocal esophageal precancerous lesions from these subjects. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination showed that among the 110 biopsies, 20 had dysplasia, 72 had basal cell hyperplasia, and 18 had normal epithelia. Concurrent lesions at the middle- and lower-third biopsy occurred in 2 subjects with dysplasia (2 of 55 subjects, 4%) and 26 subjects with basal cell hyperplasia (26 of 55 subjects, 47%). Analysis by immunohistochemistry showed high concurrent rates of p53 protein accumulation (51 of 55 subjects, 93%). p53 sequence analysis of 32 samples from 16 subjects identified missense mutations in 5. In one subject, there were three different mutations in the middle-third biopsy (codon 161, GCC-->GAC) and the lower-third biopsy (codon 159, GCC-->CCC). A single mutation was detected in the other four subjects in either the middle- or lower-third biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicate that p53 protein accumulation and mutations occur in the early stages of human esophageal carcinogenesis. Independent somatic mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene and protein accumulation in different regions of the esophageal "field" might be key molecular events in multifocal esophageal carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

Seroepidemiology of Hantaan virus infection in Taiwan.

In order to investigate the infection rate of Hantaan virus in Taiwan, a total of 6,536 human serum samples were collected from residents, selected by stratified random sampling, from 19 townships covering four different ethnic groups: Aborigines, Fukien Taiwanese, Hakka Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese. Serum samples were screened for Hantaan virus antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. The prototype Hantaan virus (76/118)-infected Vero E6 cells were used as the viral antigen for the antibody detection. Among 6,536 human serum samples, 403 (6.2%) samples had Hantaan virus antibodies. The seropositive rates for males and females were 6.1% and 6.2%, respectively. A higher seropositive rate was found among Aborigines on the Orchid Islets (11.5%) and Fukien Taiwanese on the Penghu Islets (11.6%), while the lowest rate was observed among Hakka Taiwanese in the south of Taiwan (2.5%). In comparing with different ethnic groups, the highest prevalence was found among Fukien Taiwanese (8.1%) and the lowest among Mainland Chinese (4.9%). Among the different geographical areas, the highest positive rate was found in western Taiwan (7.1%) and the lowest in southern Taiwan (5.4%). Hantaan virus antibodies were also detected in 22 of 548 (4.0%) rat serum samples. The highest seropositive rate was found in rat sera collected from the Orchid Islets (21.4%). None of the rat sera collected from Hsinchu, Miaoli, Changhua, Nantu, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, and Penghu Counties were positive. Hantaan virus antibodies were found in rats: Rattus rattus (20%), Bandicota indica (9.0%), Rattus norvegicus (8.3%), Bandicota nemorivaga (6.3%), Rattus losea (4.2%), and Apodemus agrarius (1.6%). Hantaan virus antibodies were not detected in rat sera collected from species of Rattus coxinga, Rattus culturatus, Mus musculus, Mus caroli, Suncus murinus, and Apodemus semotus. The results show that the Hantaan or Hantaan-related virus exists and is distributed widely in both human and rats in Taiwan.

Adolescent↗

Protective effect of diallyl sulfone against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Diallyl sulfone (DASO2) is a metabolite of diallyl sulfide, a compound derived from garlic. The present study investigated the effect of DASO2 as a protective agent against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Oral administration of DASO2 protected mice against the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. When administered 1 hour prior to, immediately after, or 20 minutes after a toxic dose of APAP, DASO2 at a dose of 25 mg/kg completely protected mice from development of hepatotoxicity, as indicated by liver histopathology and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. Protective effect was observed when DASO2 at a dose as low as 5 mg/kg was given to mice 1 hour prior to APAP administration. Oral administration of DASO2 to mice 1 hour prior to a toxic dose of APAP significantly inhibited the APAP-induced glutathione depletion in the liver. DASO2 treatment also decreased the levels of oxidative APAP metabolites in the plasma without affecting the concentrations of nonoxidative APAP metabolites. In liver microsomes, 0.1 mM of DASO2 caused a 60% decrease in the rate of APAP oxidation to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, which was determined as glutathione conjugate. This inhibitory effect is mainly due to its inhibition of cytochrome P450 2E1 activity; with an IC50 value equal to 0.11 mM. DASO2 also slightly inhibited the activities of P450s 3A and 1A, with IC50 values > 5 mM. Furthermore, a single oral dose of DASO2 inactivated P450 2E1- and P450 1A-dependent activities in liver microsomes. The results suggest that the protective effect of DASO2 against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity is due to its ability to block acetaminophen bioactivation mainly by the inactivation and inhibition of P450 2E1.

Acetaminophen↗

Protective effects of garlic and related organosulfur compounds on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that diallyl sulfide, a flavor component of garlic, protects against chemically induced hepatotoxicity. The present study examined the activities of fresh garlic homogenates (FGH) and related organosulfur compounds in the protection against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection. When FGH (5 g/kg) was administered to Swiss-Webster mice 2 hr prior to, or immediately after, an APAP treatment (0.2 g/kg), APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was essentially prevented as indicated by serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase and by liver histopathology. Partial protection was observed with a lower dose of FGH (0.5 g/kg). FGH also prevented APAP-induced hepatic glutathione depletion in a dose-dependent manner. FGH significantly inhibited the formation of APAP-oxidized metabolites, as indicated by decreased plasma levels of oxidized APAP metabolites. The amount of APAP excreted as oxidized metabolites in the 24 hr urine samples was also significantly lower in the mice pretreated with FGH. FGH supernatant inhibited cytochrome P450-dependent APAP oxidation in microsomal incubations. The results suggest that the protection against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by FGH is mainly due to its inhibition of P450-mediated APAP bioactivation. Several garlic-derived organosulfur compounds and structurally related compounds were examined for their abilities to protect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. An S-allyl structure appears to be a common feature for most sulfides to inhibit P450 2E1-dependent activity and to display good protective activities.

Acetaminophen↗