Effect and structure-activity relationship of the coenzymes Q on the phagocytic rate of rats

Preparation and characterization of novel coenzyme Q10 nanoparticles engineered from microemulsion precursors

The purpose of these studies was to prepare and characterize nanoparticles into which Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) had been incorporated (CoQ10-NPs) using a simple and potentially scalable method. CoQ10-NPs were prepared by cooling warm microemulsion precursors composed of emulsifying wax, CoQ10, Brij 78, and/or Tween 20. The nanoparticles were lyophilized, and the stability of CoQ10-NPs in both lyophilized form and aqueous suspension was monitored over 7 days. The release of CoQ10 from the nanoparticles was investigated at 37 degrees C. Finally, an in vitro study of the uptake of CoQ10-NPs by mouse macrophage, J774A.1, was completed. The incorporation efficiency of CoQ10 was approximately 74% +/- 5%. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that the nanoparticle was not a physical mixture of its individual components. The size of the nanoparticles increased over time if stored in aqueous suspension. However, enhanced stability was observed when the nanoparticles were stored at 4 degrees C. Storage in lyophilized form demonstrated the highest stability. The in vitro release profile of CoQ10 from the nanoparticles showed an initial period of rapid release in the first 9 hours followed by a period of slower and extended release. The uptake of CoQ10-NPs by the J774A.1 cells was over 4-fold higher than that of the CoQ10-free nanoparticles (P < .05). In conclusion, CoQ10-NPs with potential application for oral CoQ10 delivery were engineered readily from microemulsion precursors.

Coenzyme Q10 in vesicles composed of archaeal ether lipids or conventional lipids enhances the immuno-adjuvanticity to encapsulated protein

Cellular accumulation, tissue distribution, and immuno-adjuvanticity were evaluated for liposomal CoQ10 prepared from either distearoylphosphatidylcholine:dicetylphosphate:cholesterol (4:1:5, mol. ratio) (conventional liposomes) or from the total polar lipids of the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei (archaeosomes). Liposomal CoQ10 vesicles of approximately 100 nm diameter, containing up to 179 mumol of CoQ10 per mg of lipid have been evaluated using J774A.1 macrophages and Balb/c mice. Archaeosomes uptake by J774A.1 macrophages was better than with the conventional liposome, and the incorporation of CoQ10 enhanced the uptake of both lipid vesicle types. All vesicle types were detected in the liver and spleen of mice (4-27% of injected dose) within 3 h of intraperitoneal injection. Moreover, incorporation of CoQ10 into lipid vesicles enhanced the immuno-adjuvanticity of both conventional liposomes and archaeosomes, to achieve approximately a doubling in the titres of BSA-specific antibody in sera to 169 and 430 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Increases in IgG1 and IgG2a/2b accounted for most of the CoQ10-induced increases in anti-BSA titres. These results are rationalized on the basis of surface hydrophobicity and opsonization changes induced by the presence of CoQ10 in vesicles. We suggest that liposomal CoQ10 has potential as a new generation of vaccine delivery system to enhance the immune response. Its use as a novel delivery system may be particularly effective under pathological conditions where the occurrence of an oxidative stress condition significantly impairs the immune system functions.

Biochemical deficiencies of coenzyme Q10 in HIV-infection and exploratory treatment

AIDS patients (2 groups) had a blood deficiency (p less than 0.001) of coenzyme Q10 vs. 2 control groups. AIDS patients had a greater deficiency (p less than 0.01) than ARC patients. ARC patients had a deficiency (p less than 0.05) vs. control. HIV-infected patients had a deficiency (p less than 0.05) vs. control. The deficiency of CoQ10 increased with the increased severity of the disease, i.e., from HIV positive (no symptoms) to ARC (constitutional symptoms, no opportunistic infection or tumor) to AIDS (HIV infection, opportunistic infection and/or tumor). This deficiency, a decade of data on CoQ10 on the immune system, on IgG levels, on hematological activity constituted the rationale for treatment with CoQ10 of 7 patients with AIDS or ARC. One was lost to follow-up; one expired after stopping CoQ10; 5 survived, were symptomatically improved with no opportunistic infection after 4-7 months. In spite of poor compliance of 5/7 patients, the treatment was very encouraging and at times even striking.

Potential clinical applications for high-dose nutritional antioxidants

High but well-tolerated doses of the nutritional antioxidants selenium and vitamins E and C have significant immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects which are well documented in the existing biomedical literature. In addition, these antioxidants help to protect the structural integrity of ischemic or hypoxic tissues, and may have useful anti-thrombotic actions as well. Supplementation with high-dose nutritional antioxidants may eventually gain a broad role in the prevention, treatment, or palliation of cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, inflammatory disorders, and certain diabetic complications.

Toward a "bio-energy supplement" -- a prototype for functional orthomolecular supplementation

A broad-spectrum approach to the nutritional optimization of bioenergetics is discussed as a specific example of the principle of functional orthomolecular supplementation. Experimental and clinical studies with "metavitamins" such as lipoic acid, carnitine, coenzyme Q, and creatine, and with mitochondrial antioxidants, indicate that many nutritional agents involved in bioenergetics are often functionally sub-saturated. Numerous therapeutic applications for a well-designed "bio-energy supplement" can be postulated.

Vitamin E or vitamin A protects chickens against E. coli infection

The supplementation of either vitamin E (300 mg./kg. diet) or vitamin A (60,000 I.U./kg. diet) to a standard chick ration increased the protection of six week old immunized chickens against E coli infection, decreasing mortality from about 40% to 5%. The combination of the two vitamins, however, did not give as much protection as either vitamin alone. Vitamin E or A did not protect chicks from weight loss and severe morbidity due to infection, but slightly increased the rate of recovery.

Vitamin E protects mice against Diplococcus pneumoniae type I infection

Vitamin E protects nonimmunized and immunized mice against fatal Diplococcus pneumoniae type I (DpI) infection. A dietary supplementation of 180 mg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate per kg of diet increased survival of nonimmunized mice from 20 to 80% when challenged with 20 organisms, and of mice immunized with 0.5 ng of DpI polysaccharide from 15 to 70% when challenged with 20,000 organisms. The phagocytic index of immunized mice was four times higher in the 180-mg vitamin E group than in the control group. Both the survival and phagocytic index revealed a biphasic dose response, indicating a cause-effect relationship between phagocytosis and survival. Vitamin E also significantly increased the rate of carbon clearance from blood, indicating a general increase in phagocytic activity. The data indicated that increased macrophage activity probably aided by increased antibody production was the principal reason for increased protection.

Effect of stimulation of the host defense system by coenzyme Q 10 on dibenzpyrene-induced tumors and infection with Friend leukemia virus in mice

Members of the coenzyme Q group increase the phagocytic activity in rats, as measured by the carbon clearance technique, and increase the hemolytic antibody formation in mice. In addition, prior treatment with low doses of chloroquine hydrochloride combined with coenzyme Q(10) results in increased numbers of survivors, prolonged survival time, and reduced parasitemia in blood-transferred Plasmodium berghei infection in miceIn an extension of these studies, using emulsions of coenzyme Q(10), I demonstrated the following effects on two tumor systems in mice: (i) Treatment with coenzyme Q(10) decreased splenomegaly and hepatomegaly and increased the number of surviving mice infected with Friend leukemia virus. (ii) Treatment with coenzyme Q(10) reduced the percentage of mice with tumors, increased the number of survivors, and reduced the tumor size in mice with tumors induced by 3,4,9,10-dibenzpyrene. The effect on both tumor systems was dose-dependent. These studies support the hypothesis that the host defense system plays a definitive role in the defense of the host against invasion by various agents, including neoplasia.