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Biomedical subjects

P Odetti

Publications and source records attributed to P Odetti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Is amyloid beta-protein glycated in Alzheimer's disease?

Recent data suggest that protein glycation is involved in the process of amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To further investigate this issue, we analyzed the presence of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid beta-protein (A beta) as well as in apolipoprotein E (apoE), a protein bound to amyloid deposits. Both proteins were extracted from cerebral cortex obtained from patients with AD and probed by immunoblotting with two antibodies specific for different AGE, already known to immunocytochemically label amyloid plaques. All the AGE antibodies failed to recognize either A beta or apoE, whereas they reacted with synthetic A beta glycated in vitro. These findings indicate that other proteins associated with amyloid deposits are candidates to be modified with AGE in Alzheimer's cerebral tissue.

Alzheimer Disease↗

The effect of acute glutathione treatment on sorbitol level in erythrocytes from diabetic patients.

This study evaluated the effect of acute intravenous glutathione (GSH) infusion on red blood cell (RBC) sorbitol levels in 21 diabetic subjects and 6 normal controls of similar age and body mass index (Kg/m2). All patients received 1,200 mg of GSH in 500 ml of isotonic saline solution during one-hour intravenous administration. At the end of acute infusion of GSH, sorbitol concentration decreased from 20.90 +/- 1.16 to 16.24 +/- 0.81 nmol/g Hb (p < 0.001) in RBCs of diabetic subjects. No significant changes were observed in controls. These data support the hypothesis that GSH depletion, by reducing glycolytic flux to pyruvate, may enhance the rate of glucose metabolism through the polyol pathway and worsen the metabolic imbalance of diabetic tissues. The administration of exogenous GSH could interrupt this vicious circle.

Case-Control Studies↗

Susceptibility of gamma-irradiated proteins to in vitro glycation: exposure to oxygen free radicals increases glycation-induced modifications.

Oxidation and glycation are non-enzymatic protein modifications involved in the pathogenesis of aging. We evaluated their possible influences in an in vitro system: albumin was oxidized by gamma-irradiation and then exposed to glycation in vitro. Fluorescence modifications were analysed as signals of protein alterations. Both radiolytic oxidation and in vitro glycation provoked a sharp decrease of tryptophan fluorescence (278 nm ex./340 nm em.); their effects tended to be additive, unless a saturation limit was reached. Both individually and in combination, these two non-enzymatic processes induced the appearance of a new fluorescence (335 nm ex./415 nm em.); in this case as well there was an additive effect, with a trend toward saturation. Radiolytic oxidation and in vitro glycation seem to provoke similar damage to the exposed proteins: the observed fluorescence alterations may be due to similar conformational changes, breaks or the development of fluorophores.

Aging↗

Good glycaemic control reduces oxidation and glycation end-products in collagen of diabetic rats.

Blood glucose control plays a prominent role in the aetiology of diabetic complications. Recent data support the hypothesis that non-enzymatic pathways (glycation and oxidation) are involved in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in diabetes mellitus. In this study the level of pentosidine, a marker of glycation, and the intensity of collagen-linked fluorescence glycation (370/440 and 335/385 nm) and oxidation-related (356/460 and 390/460 nm), have been examined in spontaneously diabetic rats with good and poor glycaemic control. Pentosidine increased dramatically in rats with poor control, and slightly in those with good control. At the end of the study, after 6 months of diabetes, pentosidine levels were 13 +/- 5 and 2.1 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg collagen, respectively (control rats: 1.1 +/- 0.1 pmol/mg collagen). A similar pattern was observed for both glycation or oxidation-related fluorescence. The group of rats with poor control always showed elevated average values when compared to rats with good control, with a relative increase of over 200%. The results emphasize the role of good glycaemic control in preventing the growth of glycation or oxidation end-products in collagen. On comparison between the general mean level of all glycated haemoglobin and the mean pentosidine level of the three groups, a very good exponential correlation was found (r = 0.993, p < 0.001). The fluorescence values presented a less strong relationship, but a correlation with glycaemic control was still present. If the post-translational modifications of proteins play a leading role in the pathogenesis of complications it is possible to conclude that strict glycaemic control, obtained by accurate insulin therapy can prevent them by inhibiting the non-enzymatic modification of proteins and delaying their accumulation in collagen. The therapeutic implications are obvious.

Abdomen↗

Relationship between glutathione and sorbitol concentrations in erythrocytes from diabetic patients.

Red blood cell (RBC) concentrations of sorbitol and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated in 29 type 11 diabetic subjects and eight normal controls. In erythrocytes from diabetic subjects, sorbitol levels were higher (18.7 +/- 1.33 v 11.2 +/- 0.7 nmol/g hemoglobin [Hb], P < .001) and GSH levels were lower (5.48 +/- 0.19 v8.33 +/- 0.24 micromol/g Hb, P < .01) than in nondiabetics. RBC sorbitol levels were positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (r =.57, P < .001) but not with HbAlc (r =.16, P < .05). RBC GSH levels showed a negative correlation with fasting blood glucose (r = -.35, P <.05) and with HbA1c (r = -.34, P < .05) and a significant negative correlation with RBC sorbitol levels (r = -.62, P < .001). Stepwise regression analysis highlighted the fact that the hyperglycemia-dependent increase in RBC sorbitol was significantly influenced by GSH concentrations (partial F = 14.6, P < .001). These data suggest the hypothesis that the hyperglycemia-induced enhanced activity of the polyol pathway leads to GSH depletion and, in turn, GSH depletion, reducing the glycolytic flux to pyruvate, enhances the rate of glucose metabolism through the polyol pathway. The overall effect is a progressive worsening of metabolic pseudohypoxia and depletion of GSH, resulting in lower defense against oxidative stress.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

Protein oxidation in hemodialysis and kidney transplantation.

Oxidative damage of plasma proteins determined with the markers carbonyl group (CG) content and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was studied in 13 hemodialyzed and eight kidney-transplanted patients. The level of CGs was 38% higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients (1.49 +/- 0.05 nmol/mg protein) than in the healthy subjects (1.08 +/- 0.03 nmol/mg protein); the TBARS level was also higher in HD patients than in the control group (2.64 +/- 0.15 v 1.81 +/- 0.09 nmol/mL, P < .001). These data confirm that in end-stage renal failure, an increased oxidative stress is present and is able to induce protein damage. After transplantation, the CG content in protein was reduced (1.34 +/- 0.08 nmol/mg protein), but it was not significantly different from the level in the HD group. The failure to return to the normal range suggests that an impaired redox status is maintained, resulting in a sustained elevation of CG. Conversely, the level of TBARS in transplanted patients (1.99 +/- 0.22 nmol/mL) was not significantly different from that in the control group (1.81 +/- 0.09), suggesting that lipoperoxidation may be inhibited. These results may be explained by the different turnover rates of the molecules and by the distinct origin of the two markers, resulting from the damage of proteins or lipids. Thus, lipoperoxidation would produce rapidly removable molecules, whereas protein oxidation damage would tend to accumulate. However, the significant correlation found between CGs and TBARS indicates that a common cause (oxidative stress) binds the two markers of damage.

Blood Proteins↗

Progressive deterioration of beta-cell function in nonobese type 2 diabetic subjects. Postprandial plasma C-peptide level is an indication of insulin dependency.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize secondary failure (SF) to oral hypoglycaemic agents by assessment of threshold insulin-secretion values in relation to diabetes duration. One hundred and forty-seven nonobese diabetic patients, 35 to 80 years of age, with disease duration ranging from 1 to 36 years, were studied. Beta-cell function was assessed by meal-stimulated (delta CP) and glucagon-stimulated (delta aCP) C-peptide concentrations. The quality of glycaemic control was considered good if mean daily blood glucose was less than 8.5 mmol/l. One group with good (NOb-GC) and another with poor control (NOb-SF) were established. Mean daily glycaemia was negatively correlated with delta CP or delta aCP (r = -0.703 vs r = -0.696; p < 0.001) more than with basal C-peptide (r = -0.453; p < 0.001). A close positive correlation between meal-stimulated (delta CP) and glucagon-stimulated (delta aCP) C-peptide concentrations was observed (r = 0.869; p < 0.001). Residual beta-cell function (delta CP and delta aCP) was significantly correlated with known disease duration in both groups (GC: r = -0.693 and SF: r = -0.680; p < 0.001). Nonobese patients with SF showed early impaired secretion during the first years of disease, meal-stimulated delta CP being below 0.350 mmol/l. The most useful result in this study was the incremental value of C-peptide (delta CP), which showed minimal overlapping between the two groups. Basal, postprandial or postglucagon absolute values were less discriminating. The daily profile allowed measurement of both glycaemic control and insulin production after a regular meal. The validity of this measurement was confirmed by the strong correlation between meal-stimulated and glucagon-stimulated delta C-peptide concentrations. This parameter is a useful physiological marker of secondary failure.

Administration, Oral↗

Structure of rat tail tendon collagen examined by atomic force microscope.

The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was used to inspect collagen fibrils deposited on mica sheets at different fibrillogenesis times. Collagen was obtained from rat tail tendon fibers. Various fibril forms were observed, together with the characteristic periodic intra-fibril structure (D-bands). The fibril thickness, width, D-band periodicity and depth were measured and the statistical distribution of these parameters at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 days of in vitro fibril formation time was calculated. The fibrils showed an increasing size with time, but the band interval measure remained stable. The band depth, after an initial increase, exhibited a relative steadiness. The results indicate that AFM offers, at low resolution, images qualitatively similar to those obtained with electron microscopy, but with less manipulation of the sample. A quantitative evaluation of collagen structural features in the nanometer scale is made possible by AFM.

Animals↗

Evidence for the Maillard reaction in rat lung collagen and its relationship with solubility and age.

This study investigated age-related changes in collagen solubility and collagen-linked fluorescence, and their relationship with the Maillard reaction. As a result of the collagen purification of rat lung samples, we obtained two pools of collagen with different degrees of solubility. The relative distribution of collagen between these two fractions was time-dependent, and the proportion of the smaller and less soluble fraction increased with time (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001). In this fraction, the intensity of fluorescence at Exc 335 nm/Em 385 nm, and the total amount of pentosidine increased with age (r = 0.66, P < 0.002, and r = 0.69, P < 0.01, respectively). The mean values for fluorescence and pentosidine per milligram of collagen were, respectively, six and ten times greater in the less soluble fraction. In this fraction the pentosidine per milligram of collagen increased with age (r = 0.59, P < 0.03). Our results demonstrated the presence of pentosidine in rat lung collagen. Moreover, its accumulation in the less soluble fraction suggested a relationship between Maillard reaction products, physico-chemical changes in collagen solubility, and the ageing process in rat lungs.

Aging↗

Study of aging rat tail collagen using atomic force microscope.

Collagen structure of young and old rats was examined by using atomic force microscope (AFM) images. Rat tail tendons of eight and twenty-four month-old Wistar rats were digested enzymatically (pepsin), and allowed to refibrillate for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. The samples were examined using a Nanoscope III (Digital Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.) with a J scanning head and a 200 microns silicon nitride cantilever. The study was performed in air and without filters. The AFM inspection of refibrillated collagen produced images showing long fibrils with relatively homogeneous heights and widths, characterized by clear banding with a periodic interval (D band) of 67 nm. With respect to collagen extracted from young rats, collagen extracted from old rats revealed fibrils exhibiting the same band interval, but with lower widths and heights. Furthermore, the depth of gap between two overlaps showed a higher mean value in the aged rats. These data are consistent with biochemical reports of collagen modifications during aging; we suggest that post-synthetic reactions might be responsible for this as they interfere with the refibrillation process and also modify the three-dimensional structure of fibrils.

Aging↗

Plasma advanced glycosylation end-products in maintenance haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Pentosidine is a useful marker of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) which form cross-links between proteins and have been found elevated in plasma and tissues of uraemic and haemodialysed subjects. The origin and fate of these molecules are not clearly understood, but they might play a role in the cardiovascular complications of end stage renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different types of substitutive therapy on the removal of pentosidine. METHODS: Pentosidine was measured by a two-step HPLC methodology. Its concentration was evaluated in plasma before and after dialysis session, in 24-h urine, and in dialysate of subjects treated with three types of chronic substitutive therapy: bicarbonate haemodialysis, acetate-free biofiltration, and haemofiltration. Pentosidine levels were compared among the three therapy modalities and correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Plasma pentosidine level was extremely high (23.7 +/- 2.0 pmol/mg protein) in the patients treated with the different dialysis modalities. The dialysis session had no significant effect on its plasma concentration, but haemofiltration seemed to be the most efficient method (300-2000 nmol of pentosidine removed per session versus 250-700 nmol per session with the two other approaches). An interesting correlation was found between pentosidine and blood urea nitrogen (r = 0.58, P < 0.01) and pentosidine with uric acid (r = 0.48, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that none of the methodology showed a good removal of pentosidine, but among them haemofiltration has the best efficiency. The statistical relationships between pentosidine and urea and uric acid respectively might provide insight into the origin of pentosidine. The accumulation of reactive AGE in uraemic patients may be implicated in the organ and tissue damage observed in uraemia.

Adult↗

Relationships between protein carbonyls, retinol and tocopherols level in human plasma.

Free radical oxidation has been claimed as one of the most important mechanism of damage in aging and in several diseases. Carbonyl content in tissue and circulating proteins is a stable marker of this attack. In 29 apparently healthy subjects (25-89 years old) carbonyl content of plasma proteins and retinol and tocopherols (alpha- and gamma-) were studied. Carbonyls level did not show an increase with age. A good correlation between carbonyls content and gamma-tocopherol (r = 0.44, P < 0.05) and a trend with retinol (r = 0.34, P = 0.07) was found, but not with alpha-tocopherol. An inverse correlation was observed between carbonyls and plasma proteins (r = -0.63, P < 0.01) and the natural antioxidant studied showed an increase with age and a good relationship with lipids. These data suggest that retinol and tocopherols, well known scavengers of free radicals, are involved, at least partially, in the prevention of oxidative damage of circulating proteins.

Adult↗

Relationships between glycation and oxidation related fluorescences in rat collagen during aging. An in vivo and in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Glycation and oxidation are spontaneous chemical modifications of body proteins. Usually these reactions have been studied separately by assessing their fluorescent final products. Glycation of protein and its related fluorescence increases during aging, whereas the level of the fluorescence related to protein adducts from lipoperoxidation side products is unknown. Moreover, no data on the fluorescence, at different wavelengths, connected to the two reactions in the same sample are available. Nevertheless recent in vitro studies support the possibility of an interaction between the two spontaneous reactions. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we evaluated the modification of proteins due to glycation and to lipoperoxidation side products, by measuring their specific fluorescence levels in the collagen of 65 healthy Wistar rats during the aging process. The relationships among the fluorescence at different wavelengths were also reported. The fluorescence pattern of insoluble collagen was characterized by a tridimensional study after the incubation of insoluble collagen with probable precursors of protein glycation (ribose) and oxidation (malondialdehyde and hydroxynonenal); the maximum peaks of fluorescence were recognized and compared. RESULTS: An increase of all fluorescence intensities was observed in rat collagen during aging: the glycation-related ones (y370/440 = 28.3 e0.08x, r = 0.808, p < 0.01; y335/385 = 66.7 e0.06x, r = 0.798, p < 0.01) and the hydroxynonenal adduct-related (y356/460 = 44.3 e0.06x, r = 0.810, p < 0.01) were exponential, whereas that derived from MDA-adduct was almost linear (y390/460 = 17.7 + 4.1x, r = 0.661, p < 0.01). A different accumulation rate might explain this result. Significant correlation coefficients were found within the age-adjusted fluorescence intensities of both reactions, suggesting a close relationship between glycation and oxidation, besides a mutual influence due to the broad spectrum area. The in vitro study confirmed a good specificity of collagen fluorescence after incubation with a reducing sugar (ribose 0.5 M for 6 hours) for protein glycation, and after incubation with malondialdehyde (0.1 mM for 3 hours) for lipoperoxidation adducts; surprisingly enough hydroxynonenal (0.5 mM for 3 hours) significantly increased the fluorescence related to pentosidine-like products (335 nm excitation/385 nm emission) suggesting that this compound might be the precursor of products with a fluorescence similar to pentosidine or of pentosidine itself. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo results of this study confirm that nonenzymatic reactions, glycation and oxidation, significantly modify collagen fluorescence during aging and can play a role in tissue damage related to age. The close relationships among fluorescences may be due to a reciprocal interconnection rather than to a parallel increase of both reactions during aging; this hypothesis is supported by the in vitro findings of this study.

Aging↗

Pentosidine formation in skin correlates with severity of complications in individuals with long-standing IDDM.

Pentosidine is an advanced glycosylation end product and protein cross-link that results from the reaction of pentoses with proteins. Recent data indicate that long-term glycation of proteins with glucose also leads to pentosidine formation through sugar fragmentation. In this study, the relationship between the severity of diabetic complications and pentosidine formation was investigated in collagen from skin-punch biopsies from 25 nondiabetic control subjects and 41 IDDM patients with diabetes duration greater than 17 yr. Pentosidine was significantly elevated in all IDDM patients versus control subjects (P less than 0.0001). It correlated strongly with age (P less than 0.0001) and weakly with duration (P less than 0.082). Age-adjusted pentosidine levels were highest in grade 2 (severe) versus grade 1 and 0 complication in all four parameters tested (retinopathy, proteinuria, arterial stiffness, and joint stiffness). Significant differences were found for retinopathy (P less than 0.014) and joint stiffness (P less than 0.041). The highest degree of association was with the cumulative grade of individual complication (P less than 0.005), determined by summing indexes of all four parameters. Pentosidine also was significantly elevated in the serum of IDDM patients compared with control subjects (P less than 0.0001), but levels were not significantly correlated with age, diabetes duration, complication, or skin collagen pentosidine (P greater than 0.05). A high correlation between pentosidine levels and long-wave collagen-linked fluorescence also was observed, suggesting that pentosidine is a generalized marker of accelerated tissue modification by the advanced glycosylation/Maillard reaction, which is enhanced in IDDM patients with severe complications.

Adult↗

Chromatographic quantitation of plasma and erythrocyte pentosidine in diabetic and uremic subjects.

Pentosidine is a fluorescent advanced Maillard/glycosylation product and protein cross-link present in elevated amounts in skin from diabetic and uremic subjects. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed to quantitate pentosidine in plasma and erythrocytes and other tissue proteins with low levels of pentosidine. High protein content and presence of basic amino acids and O2 during acid hydrolysis led to the formation of fluorescent artifacts that could be separated from true pentosidine through combined reverse-phase ion-exchange HPLC. No true pentosidine was formed during acid hydrolysis of ribated protein, suggesting that Amadori products do not generate artifactual pentosidine during hydrolysis. With the combined reverse-phase ion-exchange chromatographic assay, we found a 2.5-fold (P less than 0.001) and a 23-fold (P less than 0.001) elevation of mean +/- SD plasma protein pentosidine in diabetic (2.4 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg) and uremic (21.5 +/- 10.8 pmol/mg) subjects compared with healthy (0.95 +/- 0.33 pmol/mg) subjects. Pentosidine in hemolysate was normal in diabetes but dramatically elevated in uremia (0.6 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg hemoglobin, P less than 0.001). Although the precise nature of the pentosidine precursor sugar is unknown, plasma pentosidine may be a useful marker for monitoring the biochemical efficacy of trials with aminoguanidine or other treatment modalities. Furthermore, pentosidine in plasma proteins may act as a signal for advanced glycosylation end product-mediated receptor uptake by macrophages and other cells and contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetes and uremia.

Analysis of Variance↗

Maillard reaction-mediated molecular damage to extracellular matrix and other tissue proteins in diabetes, aging, and uremia.

Recent progress in structure elucidation of products of the advanced Maillard reaction now allows probing specifically for the role of this reaction in the pathogenesis of age- and diabetes-related complications. Pyrraline is a glucose-derived advanced glycation end product against which polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies have been raised. Immunohistochemical localization studies revealed that pyrraline is found predominantly in the sclerosed extracellular matrix of glomerular and arteriolar renal tissues from both diabetic and aged nondiabetic individuals. Pentosidine and carboxymethyllysine are Maillard end products derived from both glucose and ascorbate. In addition, pentosidine can be formed from several other sugars under oxidative conditions, and in vitro studies suggest that a common intermediate involving a pentose is a necessary precursor molecule. The highest levels of these advanced Maillard products are generally found in the extracellular matrix, but these products are also present in lens proteins and in proteins with a fast turnover such as plasma proteins. Diabetes, and especially uremia, greatly catalyzes pentosidine formation. Both conditions are characterized by accelerated cataractogenesis, atherosclerosis, and neuropathy, suggesting that molecular damage by advanced Maillard reaction products may be a common mechanism in their development.

Aging↗