Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Cytoprotection”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Urea-urease system in cytoprotection against acute mucosal damage.

Ammonia (NH4OH) generated by urease from urea in the Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-infected stomach is considered as a one of the major pathogenic factors in the Hp-associated gastritis but the mechanism of the deleterious action of NH4OH on gastric mucosa has not been fully explained. In this study, the gastric mucosa was exposed to topical NH4OH in various concentrations (15-250 mM) (series A) and to NH4OH in a small concentration followed by a high concentration (250 mM) of NH4OH (series B) or to the combination of urea and urease to generate NH4OH (series C) followed by 250 mM NH4OH in order to determine the "mild irritant" and protective properties of this substance on the mucosa. Administration of NH4OH alone resulted in a concentration-dependent mucosal damage starting at 30 mM and reaching at 250 mM the degree similar to that obtained with 100% ethanol. The acute mucosal damage by NH4OH was accompanied by the fall in gastric blood flow reaching nadir at 250 mM NH4OH of about 30% of the normal value. When the mucosa was first exposed to low concentration of NH4OH (15 mM) and then insulted with its larger concentration (250 mM), the lesion area was markedly reduced as compared to that obtained with 250 mM NH4OH alone and this effect was accompanied by a significant rise in the GBF. This adaptive cytoprotection by 15 mM NH4OH was reversed, in part, by the pretreatment with indomethacin to inhibit prostaglandins (PG) or L-NAME to suppress nitric oxide (NO) formation or after capsaicin-induced denervation of sensory nerves. Blockade of endogenous sulfhydryls (SH) by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) eliminated this adaptive cytoprotection but the suppression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, by alpha-difluoro methylornithine (DFMO) failed to influence the protection and accompanying hyperemia afforded by NH4OH in low concentration. The combination of urea (2%) and urease (100 U), which raised the gastric luminal NH4OH concentration by about 5-folds, also reduced significantly the lesions provoked by 250 mM NH4OH. This protection and accompanying hyperemia induced was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment with indomethacin or hydroxyurea, a potent urease inhibitor. Hydroxyurea abolished completely the rise in luminal NH4OH produced by the combined treatment of urea plus urease. We conclude that 1) NH4OH in high concentration damages the gastric mucosa but when applied at lower concentration or generated in the stomach by urea-urease system, acts as local mild irritant to induce adaptive cytoprotection that probably involves PG, sensory nerves and arginine-NO-pathaway.

Ammonium Hydroxide↗

Cytoprotective agents for anthracyclines.

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is believed to be related to the generation of reactive oxygen species by at least two mechanisms: enzymatic reduction of the quinone with subsequent redox cycling and/or formation of an iron-anthracycline complex capable of intramolecular reduction and redox cycling. Both pathways may lead to the production of superoxide anions and highly reactive metabolites, such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. As a result, membrane lipid peroxidation may ensue, producing damage in tissues like the heart, which have low antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase glutathione and especially, glutathione-peroxidase). Pharmacologic methods of interrupting this cycle have involved numerous antioxidants, such as the sulfhydryls N-acetylcysteine and cysteamine, and the lipophilic vitamin alpha tocopherol. Unfortunately, none of these compounds has been proven to be cardioprotective in patients receiving doxorubicin. In contrast, the water-soluble d-isomer of the iron chelator razoxane, dexrazoxane or ICRF-187, has been shown to reduce doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. This has afforded greater cumulative doses of doxorubicin to be safely administered. The cytoprotective effect is apparently limited to the heart since there is no effect on antitumor efficacy and, unfortunately, no reduction in gastrointestinal toxicity, and with a slight increase in myelosuppression. More recent preclinical studies have also demonstrated cardioprotective activity for the aminothiol amifostine (WR-2721). In vitro, this agent has been shown to scavenge superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, the latter effect mediated by the active (dephosphorylated) metabolite, WR-1065. In tumor-bearing mice, amifostine reduces the lethality of high doses of doxorubicin without affecting antitumor activity. Finally, in vitro studies in neonatal rat heart cells have shown direct evidence of anthracycline cardioprotection for both amifostine and WR-1065. Cytoprotective drug levels of either agent were limited to 2.0 microg/mL, which is one tenth of the achievable peak plasma levels in humans. At this concentration, a 15-minute sulfhydryl pretreatment significantly prevented doxorubicin-induced depressions of myocyte adenosine triphosphate levels. Overall, these studies suggest that amifostine may have cytoprotective activity against doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage. Animal studies in a chronically dosed doxorubicin model are indicated; if positive, clinical trials testing this hypothesis will be warranted.

Amifostine↗

Studies on the cytoprotective and antisecretory activity of ebrotidine. A review.

Gastric mucosa is exposed to various aggressive factors such as stress, ulcerogenic drugs including acetyl-salicylic acid(ASA)-like agents, ethanol, bacteria, particularly Helicobacter pylori (Hp), and various endogenous irritants such as acid-pepsin secretion and bile salts. The maintenance of the mucosal barrier depends upon the activation of the pre-epithelial (mucus-alkali secretion), epithelial (surface-active phospholipids and rapid mucosal restitution) and post-epithelial (mucosal microcirculation, sensory nerves and mast cells) components of mucosal defense. Ebrotidine (N-[(E)-[[2-[[[2-[(diaminomethylene)amino]- 4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]amino]methylene]-4-bromo-benzenesulfonamid e, CAS 100981-43-9, FI-3542) is the first of a new generation of H2-receptor antagonists with both antisecretory and cytoprotective activities. Its inhibitory action is similar to that of ranitidine and approximately tenfold greater than cimetidine, and is accompanied by a small and transient increase in plasma gastrin levels. In contrast to ranitidine and other H2-receptor antagonists, ebrotidine exerts a unique cytoprotection against injury by various ulcerogens such as ethanol, ammonia, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), stress and ASA or acidified taurocholate. The mechanism of this protection by ebrotidine is not clear, but it has been shown to stimulate mucus secretion, to increase the quality of adherent mucus gel and to increase gastric mucosal blood flow (GBF), possibly due to enhanced mucosal formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO). The cytoprotective effects of ebrotidine were observed in rats and confirmed also in humans with gastric lesions induced by ethanol or ASA. Ebrotidine also exerts anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) effects by interfering with surface receptors of epithelial cells and inhibiting urease, protease and lipase activity, and by counteracting the noxious effects of Hp-related substances such as ammonia and lipopoly-saccharides (LPS).

Adult↗

Nitrite-mediated protection against hypochlorous acid-induced chondrocyte toxicity: a novel cytoprotective role of nitric oxide in the inflamed joint?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential consequences of overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite (NO(2) (-)) in the inflamed rheumatoid joint. METHODS: Human articular chondrocytes in culture were exposed to HOCl (hypochlorous acid, a physiologic oxidant formed in increased amounts at sites of chronic inflammation), and assays of cell viability, intracellular ATP and glutathione (GSH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were performed. HOCl-induced lipid peroxidation and activation of the MAP kinases ERK-1/2, JNK-1/2, and p38 were also measured. The modulatory effects of NO-derived nitrite (NO(2) (-)) and nitrate (NO(3) (-)) on HOCl-mediated chondrocyte toxicity were investigated. RESULTS: Exposure of human articular chondrocytes to HOCl resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent loss of viability, decrease in ATP and GSH levels, LDH leakage, and cell death. HOCl induced significant lipid peroxidation as well as activation of the MAP kinases ERK-1/2 and p38 but not JNK-1/2. However, the presence of NO(2) (-) but not NO(3) (-) substantially decreased HOCl-dependent cellular toxicity even when NO(2) (-) was added at low (microM) concentrations. In sharp contrast, NO(2) (-) (1 mM) did not inhibit superoxide-, hydroxyl radical-, H(2)O(2)-, or peroxynitrite-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, culture media from cells treated with interleukin-1beta (to generate NO and NO(2) (-)) offered significantly more protection against HOCl-mediated cytotoxicity than culture media from untreated cells. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that NO(2) (-) accumulation at chronically inflamed sites where both HOCl and NO are overproduced may be cytoprotective against damage induced by HOCl. Accumulation of NO(2) (-) could represent a novel cytoprotective role of NO in inflamed joints. A mechanism for this is suggested.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Epidermal growth factor-induced cytoprotection in human intestinal cells involves intracellular calcium signaling.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism(s) whereby epidermal growth factor (EGF) protects against cellular injury remains poorly understood. Previous data in our laboratory have suggested that EGF-induced cellular proliferation in human colonic carcinoma cells (Caco-2) may involve changes in intracellular calcium content ([Ca(2+)](i)). Our current objective was to determine if a similar process was involved with EGF-induced cytoprotection. METHODS: Postconfluent Caco-2 cells were employed for all experimentation. [Ca(2+)](i) was measured with Fluo-3 fluorescence. Injury was measured employing Ethidium homodimer 1 uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. RESULTS: Caco-2 cells pretreated, but not concomitantly treated, with EGF (10-100 ng/ml, 30-60 min) significantly attenuated cellular injury induced subsequently by 500 microM deoxycholate (DC). Cells exposed to 100 ng/ml EGF demonstrated an initial increase in [Ca(2+)](i) (1-5 min) which was blocked with neomycin, an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) generation, and the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not U73343 (inactive control). This was followed by sustained extracellular Ca(2+) influx (5-20 min), which was attenuated with calcium-free buffer and the store operated Ca(2+) channel blocker La(3+). [Ca(2+)](i) then returned to baseline (20-30 min), a process blocked with the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors quercetin and vanadate. The above treatments, which in and of themselves did not induce cellular injury, were repeated and cells were subsequently exposed to DC. All groups exposed to 500 microM DC demonstrated significant increases in both Ethidium Homodimer 1 uptake and LDH release. Both indices of injury were significantly decreased when cells were pretreated with EGF +/- the inactive PLC inhibitor U73343. However, protection induced by EGF was lost when any of its effects on changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were prevented: internal Ca(2+) store release via PLC and IP(3), sustained Ca(2+) influx through store operated Ca(2+) channels, or subsequent Ca(2+) efflux. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the cytoprotective effects of EGF may involve Ca(2+) signaling.

Caco-2 Cells↗

Adaptive cytoprotection against acetic acid induced colonic injury in rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The phenomenon of prostaglandin dependent adaptive cytoprotection has been well established in the stomach and duodenum but not in the colon. This study investigated whether it also occurs in the colon. METHODS: Fisher rats received intracolonic administration (0.5 ml) of saline or acetic acid at low concentrations (0.01-5%) followed by high concentration (25%) at various intervals (10-720 min). The distal colon was removed 2 h after acetic acid (25%), and colonic injury was assessed macroscopically and histologically and scored. Indomethacin (5 mg/kg) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 h or 30 min before pretreatment with 1% acetic acid. RESULTS: Acetic acid (25%) administered into the colon induced 11.6+/-0.2 macroscopic scores and 10.0+/-0.4 histological scores in saline-pretreated rats, which were reduced to 0.3+/-0.2 and 1.8+/-0.5 by acetic acid (1%) pretreatment, respectively. The protective effect assessed macroscopically and histologically was dose related (0.01-1% acetic acid) and long lasting (maximal at 30 min and lasting up to 6 h). Indomethacin abolished the colonic adaptive cytoprotection while nitric oxide synthase inhibitor had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that prostaglandin dependent adaptive protection is induced by exposure of the colon to low concentrations of acetic acid, suggesting that endogenous defense mechanisms are increased in the colon by mild irritants.

Acetic Acid↗

Polyamines and thiols in the cytoprotective effect of L-cysteine and L-methionine on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity.

The relationship between cellular glutathione (GSH), protein-SH levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), with respect to the effect of polyamines on the cytoprotective ability of L-cysteine and L-methionine, the most important components in the sulfur amino acid metabolic pathway, in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes was studied. CCl4 induced a LDH release and decreased cellular thiols and polyamines levels but treatment with L-cysteine and L-methionine reversed these decreases. Treating with methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone), MGBG, an irreversible inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, which is a key enzyme in spermidine and spermine biosynthesis, and therefore used to deplete cellular polyamines, prevented the protective effect of L-cysteine and L-methionine, but the addition of exogenous polyamines inhibited the influence of MGBG. These results suggest that the cytoprotective effect of L-cysteine and L-methionine in CCl4-induced toxicity were via maintenance of cellular polyamines, GSH and protein-SH concentrations and prevention of LDH leakage.

Animals↗

Low direct cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effects of nitric oxide releasing indomethacin.

Nitric oxide (NO) releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown a marked reduction of gastrointestinal side effects and we here examined the cytotoxicity of NCX 530 (NO-indomethacin). Under conditions where indomethacin clearly induced both necrosis and apoptosis, NCX 530 induced neither. NCX 530 protected cells from celecoxib-induced necrosis and apoptosis. NCX 530 partially suppressed celecoxib-dependent membrane permeabilization and an inhibitor for guanylate cyclase suppressed the cytoprotective effect of NCX 530 against celecoxib. In vivo, NCX 530 alone produced fewer gastric lesions in rats than did indomethacin. A combination of the oral administration of celecoxib together with the intraperitoneal administration of indomethacin, but not of NCX 530, clearly resulted in the production of gastric lesions. The low direct cytotoxicity and the cytoprotective effect of NCX 530 observed in vitro may also act in vivo, thus ensuring that NCX 530 is safe for use on the gastric mucosa.

Acetates↗

beta cell cytoprotective strategies: establishing the relative roles for iNOS and ROS.

Cytokine-induced beta cell destruction may be mediated by the generation of nitric oxide and/or reactive oxygen species. The relative importance of NO and ROS in cytokine-induced beta cell pathophysiology remains unclear. This investigation evaluates and contrasts the cytoprotective potential of antioxidant gene transfer, versus NF-kappaB inhibition, using a degradation-resistant mutant of IkappaBalpha. NF-kappaB inhibition conferred significant protection against cytokine-induced damage whereas antioxidant overexpression failed to provide protection. Conferred cytoprotection was associated with a suppression of iNOS activation and nitrite accumulation. Our data implicates iNOS, as opposed to ROS, as the pivotal player in cytokine-induced beta cell damage. From a therapeutic standpoint, strategies aimed at targeting the activation of iNOS may harbor therapeutic potential in preserving beta cell survival in the face of proinflammatory cytokine exposure.

Animals↗

Cytoprotective responses in the Mediterranean mussel exposed to Hg2+ and CH3Hg+.

This study aimed at elucidating whether organic and inorganic forms of mercury contamination differently affect HSP and MXR cytoprotective responses in Mytilus galloprovincialis. Changes of relative transcript levels were assessed in digestive glands of mussels exposed to 0.75 microM CH(3)Hg(+) or Hg(2+) for a maximum of 6 days. CH(3)Hg(+) inhibited MgHSP70 and induced MgHSC70 expression. As previously reported Hg(2+) stimulated MgHSP70 expression and induced MgHSC70 transcripts only after 6 days. The effect of CH(3)Hg(+) or Hg(2+) on the MXR system was investigated after partial sequencing of Pgp, Mrp2, and Mvp cDNAs. The multiple alignments showed a high sequence homology with the human and the available bivalve MXR-related proteins. All transcripts were up-regulated by CH(3)Hg(+), while transiently up-regulated by Hg(2+) after 8 h of exposure, and down-regulated thereafter. Present results suggest that the HSP70 and MXR systems may be simultaneously modulated by the same stress stimulus, and that different chemical forms of contamination evoke different cytoprotective responses.

Animals↗

Iron mobilization, cytoprotection, and inhibition of cell proliferation in normal and transformed rat hepatocyte cultures by the hydroxypyridinone CP411, compared to CP20: a biological and physicochemical study.

The present study analyzes the iron mobilization, the cytoprotective, and the antiproliferative effects of the lipophilic hydroxypyridinone CP411, in comparison with the hydrophilic chelator CP20 or deferiprone used in the treatment of iron overload. Primary rat hepatocyte cultures and the rat hepatoma cell line Fao were used. Chelator cell uptake was evaluated by mass spectrometry in the two models. This method was also used to investigate the stability of the chelators in an acellular system as well as their scavenging and chelating effects against the hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction. The iron mobilization and the cytoprotective effects of the chelators were evaluated in primary cultures by measuring respectively 55Fe and lactate dehydrogenase release in the culture medium. The antiproliferative effect of the chelators was studied using the Fao cell line and measuring DNA synthesis by thymidine incorporation and DNA content by flow cytometry. We observed that CP411 entered the hepatocytes and the Fao cells respectively 4 and 13 times more than CP20. CP411 was 2.5 times more effective than CP20 to mobilize iron from preloaded hepatocytes. Pretreatment of the hepatocytes with CP20 or CP411 decreased the toxic effect of iron and CP411 was 1.6 times more effective than CP20. A dose-dependent decrease of DNA synthesis, correlated to an accumulation of cells in S phase, was observed in the Fao cell line in the presence of CP411, while CP20 was without effect. CP411 effect was inhibited by addition of iron simultaneously with the chelator, the addition of Zn or Cu was without effect. The inhibitory effect of CP411 was reversible since, 24hr after removal of the chelator, DNA replication reached the control level. The results show that CP411 is more efficient to protect the hepatocyte from the toxic effect of iron load and to inhibit tumor cell proliferation. Its higher efficiency may result from its better cell uptake since equimolar solutions of the two chelators in an acellular system exhibit the same ability to inhibit the Fenton reaction.

Animals↗

Cytoprotective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and catechol ring-fluorinated CAPE derivatives against menadione-induced oxidative stress in human endothelial cells.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a natural polyphenolic compound with many biological activities, has been shown to be protective against ischemia-reperfusion injury. We have synthesized six new catechol ring-fluorinated CAPE derivatives and evaluated their cytotoxic and cytoprotective effects against menadione-induced cytotoxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These results provide some insights into the structural basis of CAPE cytoprotection in this assay, which does not appear to be based solely on direct antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants↗

Cytoprotection by lithium and valproate varies between cell types and cellular stresses.

Despite much evidence that lithium and valproate, two commonly used mood stabilizers, exhibit neuroprotective properties against an array of insults, the pharmacological relevance of such effects is not clear because most of these studies examined the acute effect of these drugs in supratherapeutic doses against insults which were of limited disease relevance to bipolar disorder. In the present study, we investigated whether lithium and valproate, at clinically relevant doses, protects human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and glioma (SVG and U87) cells against oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells for 7 days, but not 1 day, with 1 mM of lithium or 0.6 mM of valproate significantly reduced rotenone and H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, and increased Bcl-2 levels. Conversely, neither acute nor chronic treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with lithium or valproate elicited cytoprotective responses against thapsigargin-evoked cell death and caspase-3 activation. Moreover, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), kenpaullone and SB216763, abrogated rotenone-induced, but not H2O2-induced, cytotoxicity. Thus the cytoprotective effects of lithium and valproate against H2O2-induced cell death is likely independent of GSK-3 inhibition. On the other hand, chronic lithium or valproate treatment did not ameliorate cytotoxicity induced by rotenone, H2O2, and thapsigargin in SVG astroglial and U87 MG glioma cell lines. Our results suggest that lithium and valproate may decrease vulnerability of human neural, but not glial, cells to cellular injury evoked by oxidative stress possibly arising from putative mitochondrial disturbances implicated in bipolar disorder.

Antimanic Agents↗

Depolarization preconditioning produces cytoprotection against veratridine-induced chromaffin cell death.

The hypothesis that K(+) channels and cell depolarization are involved in neuronal death and neuroprotection was tested in bovine chromaffin cells subjected to two treatment periods: the first period (preconditioning period) lasted 6 to 48 h and consisted of treatment with high K(+) solutions or with tetraethylammonium (TEA), a K(+) channel blocker; the second period consisted of incubation with veratridine for 24 h, to cause cell damage. Preconditioning with high K(+) (20-80 mM) or TEA (10-30 mM) for 24 h caused 20-60% cytoprotection against veratridine-induced cell death in bovine chromaffin cells. The absence of Ca(2+) ions during the first 9 h of an 18-h preconditioning period abolished the cytoprotection. Preconditioning with K(+) or TEA increased by 2.5-fold the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and by nearly 2-fold the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. However, preconditioning did not modify the veratridine-evoked Ca(2+) signal. High K(+) shifted the Em by about 10 mV and TEA evoked a transient burst of action potentials superimposed on a sustained depolarization. We conclude that preconditioning may protect chromaffin cells from death by blocking K(+) channels that depolarize the cell and cause a cytosolic Ca(2+) signal, leading to enhanced expression of BDNF and Bcl-2.

Animals↗

Creatine supplementation affords cytoprotection in oxidatively injured cultured mammalian cells via direct antioxidant activity.

A growing body of evidence suggests that creatine (Cr) might exert protective effects in a variety of pathologies where oxidative stress plays a concausal etiologic role; furthermore, it has been recently reported that Cr displays direct antioxidant activity in a cell-free setting. However, at present, no research has been specifically aimed to directly test the antioxidant potential of Cr on oxidatively injured cultured cells. Here, the effects of Cr were studied using cultured human promonocytic (U937) and endothelial (HUVEC) cells, and murine myoblasts (C2C12) exposed to H(2)O(2), tert-butylhydroperoxide (tB-OOH) and, in the case of U937 cells, peroxynitrite. Cr (0.1-10 mM) attenuated the cytotoxic effects caused by the oxidants in all the cell lines; under our conditions, cytoprotection was invariably associated with elevation of the intracellular fraction of Cr but it seemed to be unrelated to the levels of Cr phosphate (CrP); Cr did not affect the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GpX), but it prevented H(2)O(2)- or tB-OOH-induced consumption of the nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) pool in U937 and HUVEC cells; mass spectrometry experiments showed that a 136 MW molecule, which is likely to represent an oxidation by-product of Cr, formed in reaction buffers containing Cr and H(2)O(2) as well as in cellular extracts from H(2)O(2)- or tB-OOH- treated Cr-preloaded U937 cells; finally, Cr cytoprotection appeared to be unrelated to chelation of Fe(2+). In conclusion, it is suggested that Cr exerts a mild, although significant, antioxidant activity in living cells, via a mechanism depending on direct scavenging of reactive oxygen (in particular hydroxyl radical) and nitrogen species.

Animals↗

Cytoprotective effect on oxidative stress and inhibitory effect on cellular aging of Uncaria sinensis Havil.

The ethanol extract from the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis Havil (Rubiaceae) exhibited significant inhibitory activity on oxidative stress and the age-dependent shortening of the telomeric DNA length. In the peroxidation model using t-BuOOH, the Uncaria sinensis extract showed a notable cytoprotective effect on the HEK-N/F cells with 65.0 +/- 3.0% of cell viability when compared with control cells at a concentration of 50 microg/ml. In addition, the Uncaria sinensis extract exhibited a significant cytoprotective effect against UVB-induced oxidative damage. The life-span of the HEK-N/F cells was elongated by 201% as a result of the continuous administration of 3 microg/ml of the Uncaria sinensis extract compared to that of the control. These observations were attributed to the inhibitory effect of the Uncaria sinensis extract on the age-dependent shortening of the telomere length as shown by the Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) of DNA extracted from subculture passages.

Cell Line↗

TNFalpha-induced cytoprotection requires the production of free radicals within mitochondria in C2C12 myotubes.

We previously reported that tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) can mimic classic ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in both cells and heart. However, the signalling pathways involved remain incompletely understood. One potential protective pathway could be TNFalpha-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). We hypothesized that TNFalpha cytoprotection occurs through the generation of ROS which originate within the mitochondria. C(2)C(12) myotubes were preconditioned with either a short period of hypoxia (IPC) or a low concentration of TNFalpha (0.5 ng/ml) prior to a simulated ischemic insult. ROS generation was evaluated on cells stained with dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) by flow cytometry. The source of TNFalpha-induced ROS was examined with Mitotracker Red CM-H(2)XRos. The bioenergetics of the mitochondria were evaluated by investigation of the respiratory parameters and the inner mitochondrial membrane potential. Pretreatment with TNFalpha improved cell viability compared with the simulated ischemic control (TNFalpha: 75 +/- 1% versus 34 +/- 1% for the control: p<0.001). The ROS scavenger, N-2-mercaptopropionyl-glycine (MPG), reduced the viability of TNFalpha-stimulated cells to 15 +/- 1% (p<0.001 versus TNFalpha). Similar results were obtained with IPC. TNFalpha stimulation increased ROS production mainly in the mitochondria, and this increase was abolished in the presence of MPG. Addition of TNFalpha to the cells increased State 2 respiration and modestly depolarised the membrane potential prior to the ischemic insult. In conclusion, TNFalpha-induced ROS generation can occur within the mitochondria, resulting in temporal mitochondrial perturbations which may initiate the cytoprotective effect of TNFalpha.

Cell Hypoxia↗

Cytoprotective and antioxidant role of diallyl tetrasulfide on cadmium induced renal injury: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental and industrial pollutant that affects various organs in humans and animals. A body of evidence has accumulated implicating the free radical generation with subsequent oxidative stress in the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of Cd toxicity. Since kidney is the critical target of Cd toxicity, we carried out this study to investigate the effects of diallyl tetrasulfide (DTS), an organosulfur compound derived from garlic on Cd induced toxicity in the kidney of rats and also in the kidney cell line (vero cells). In experimental rats, subcutaneous administration of Cd (3 mg/kg bw/day) for 3 weeks induced renal damage, which was evident from significantly increased levels of serum urea and creatinine with significant decrease in creatinine clearance. A markedly increased levels of lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides) and protein carbonyl contents with significant decrease in nonenzymic antioxidants (total sulphydryl groups, reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E) and enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) as well as glutathione metabolizing enzymes (glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) were also observed in Cd intoxicated rats. Coadministration of DTS (40 mg/kg bw/day) and Cd resulted in the reversal of the kidney function accompanied by a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and increase in the antioxidant defense system. In vitro studies with vero cells showed that incubation of DTS (5-50 microg/ml) with Cd (10 microM) significantly reduced the cell death induced by Cd. DTS at 40 microg/ml effectively blocked the cell death and lipid peroxidation induced by Cd (10 microM) indicating its cytoprotective property. Further, the flow cytometric assessment on the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species using a fluorescent probe 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) confirmed the Cd induced intracellular oxidative stress in vero cells, which was significantly suppressed by DTS (40 microg/ml). The histopathological studies in the kidney of rats also showed that DTS (40 mg/kg bw/day) markedly reduced the toxicity of Cd and preserved the architecture of renal tissue. The present study suggests that the cytoprotective potential of DTS in Cd toxicity might be due to its antioxidant and metal chelating properties, which could be useful for achieving optimum effects in Cd induced renal damage.

Allyl Compounds↗