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Sun Z, Lu K, He Q, Tang Y, Li H, Pazo EE, Hu L, Wei R. INOS ablation promotes corneal wound healing via activation of Akt signaling. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109886. [PMID: 38583755 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Corneal injury leads to impaired normal structure of the cornea. Improving the wound healing process in epithelial cells significantly contributes to ocular damage treatments. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) and its mediator, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in the process of corneal wound healing. We established a corneal injury model of iNOS-/- mice, and treated human corneal epithelial cell lines (HCE-2) with the iNOS inhibitor L-INL, with or without NO replenishment by supplying sodium nitroferricyanide dihydrate (SNP). Our findings showed that inhibition of NO/iNOS accelerated corneal repair, enhanced uPAR (a receptor protein indicating the migration ability), and improved epithelial cell migration. Furthermore, NO/iNOS ablation activated Akt phosphorylation, reduced neutrophil marker protein MPO expression, and downregulated the transcription of inflammation cytokines CXCL-1, CXCL-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. However, the protective effects of NO/iNOS inhibition are significantly reduced by NO replenishment when treated with SNP. Therefore, we confirmed that inhibiting NO/iNOS improved the corneal wound healing by facilitating epithelial cell migration and reducing inflammatory reactions, which might be related to the activation of the Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Kunpeng Lu
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Qing He
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Tang
- Qingdao State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 266071, Qingdao, China
| | - Haoru Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Emmanuel Eric Pazo
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Lizhi Hu
- Basic Medical College, Immunology Department, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| | - Ruihua Wei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 300070, Tianjin, China.
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Deng H, Zhang Y, Liu K, Mao Q, Agathokleous E. Allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus extract and wood vinegar on germination and sprouting of rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:4280-4289. [PMID: 38100025 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31481-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Eucalyptus plantations are usually characterized by low biodiversity due to allelopathy effects. Wood vinegar is considered a complex growth regulator that can promote plant growth at low concentrations. However, there is information scarcity about the co-application of eucalypt leaf water extract and wood vinegar on plants. This study aimed at clarifying whether wood vinegar can protect seed germination against suppression by eucalypt-induced allelopathy. We examined germination behavior and seedling elongation characteristics in rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) treated with different solutions of wood vinegar and eucalypt leaf water extract. The results showed that eucalypt leaf water extracts, wood vinegar solutions, and their mixture allelopathically suppressed seed germination rate. After rapeseed sprouting, eucalypt leaf water extracts promoted root elongation, stem elongation, and fresh weight elongation. Malondialdehyde content was also lower under the influence of eucalypt leaf water extract. Mixture of high concentration of eucalypt leaf water extract and lower concentration of wood vinegar significantly promoted root elongation. Therefore, both eucalypt leaf water extract and wood vinegar are complex plant growth regulators, which can be used to inhibit or stimulate plants at different ontogenic stages. During the seed germination period, both eucalypt leaf extracts and wood vinegar could be used as weed inhibitors. Conversely, during the period of sprouting (seedling establishment), low concentrations of eucalypt leaf extracts and wood vinegar can promote growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Deng
- College of Resources, Environment and Life Sciences, Ningxia Normal University, Guyuan, 756000, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Kangping Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Sanya Qihuimin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Sanya, 572022, China
| | - Qiaozhi Mao
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Department of Ecology, School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST), Nanjing, 210044, China.
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Iavicoli I, Fontana L, Santocono C, Guarino D, Laudiero M, Calabrese EJ. The challenges of defining hormesis in epidemiological studies: The case of radiation hormesis. Sci Total Environ 2023; 902:166030. [PMID: 37544458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
In the current radiation protection system, preventive measures and occupational exposure limits for controlling occupational exposure to ionizing radiation are based on the linear no-threshold extrapolation model. However, currently an increasing body of evidence indicates that this paradigm predicts very poorly biological responses in the low-dose exposure region. In addition, several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the presence of hormetic dose response curves correlated to ionizing radiation low exposure. In this regard, it is noteworthy that also the findings of different epidemiological studies, conducted in different categories of occupationally exposed workers (e.g., healthcare, nuclear industrial and aircrew workers), observed lower rates of mortality and/or morbidity from cancer and/or other diseases in exposed workers than in unexposed ones or in the general population, then suggesting the possible occurrence of hormesis. Nevertheless, these results should be considered with caution since the identification of hormetic response in epidemiological studies is rather challenging because of a number of major limitations. In this regard, some of the most remarkable shortcomings found in epidemiological studies performed in workers exposed to ionizing radiation are represented by lack or inadequate definition of exposure doses, use of surrogates of exposure, narrow dose ranges, lack of proper control groups and poor evaluation of confounding factors. Therefore, considering the valuable role and contribution that epidemiological studies might provide to the complex risk assessment and management process, there is a clear and urgent need to overcome the aforementioned limits in order to achieve an adequate, useful and more real-life risk assessment that should also include the key concept of hormesis. Thus, in the present conceptual article we also discuss and provide possible approaches to improve the capacity of epidemiological studies to identify/define the hormetic response and consequently improve the complex process of risk assessment of ionizing radiation at low exposure doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Iavicoli
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Luca Fontana
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Carolina Santocono
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Guarino
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Martina Laudiero
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Edward J Calabrese
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Stuehr DJ, Biswas P, Dai Y, Ghosh A, Islam S, Jayaram DT. A natural heme deficiency exists in biology that allows nitric oxide to control heme protein functions by regulating cellular heme distribution. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300055. [PMID: 37276366 PMCID: PMC10478511 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A natural heme deficiency that exists in cells outside of the circulation broadly compromises the heme contents and functions of heme proteins in cells and tissues. Recently, we found that the signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO), can trigger or repress the deployment of intracellular heme in a concentration-dependent hormetic manner. This uncovers a new role for NO and sets the stage for it to shape numerous biological processes by controlling heme deployment and consequent heme protein functions in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis J. Stuehr
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH 44195 USA
| | - Pranjal Biswas
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH 44195 USA
| | - Yue Dai
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH 44195 USA
| | - Arnab Ghosh
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH 44195 USA
| | - Sidra Islam
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH 44195 USA
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Amtaghri S, Qabouche A, Slaoui M, Eddouks M. Potential Antihypertensive Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Ammi visnaga and its Effect on ACE-2 in Rats. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets 2023; 23:277-284. [PMID: 38115615 DOI: 10.2174/011871529x255465231120055555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This work aimed to investigate the antihypertensive activity of Ammi visnaga. BACKGROUND The aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga has traditionally been used to treat hypertension in Morocco. OBJECTIVE The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Ammi visnaga aqueous extract (AVAE) on arterial blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) in normotensive and hypertensive rats. In addition, the effect of the aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga on vasodilatation was assessed in isolated rat aortic rings with functional endothelium pre-contracted with epinephrine EP or KCl. METHODS AVAE was obtained, and its antihypertensive ability was pharmacologically investigated in L-NAME hypertensive and normotensive rats. The rats received oral AVAE at two selected doses of 70 and 140 mg/kg for six hours (acute experiment) and seven days (sub-chronic). Thereafter, systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated. Moreover, the vasorelaxant activity of AESA was performed in thoracic aortic ring rats. In addition, the mechanisms of action involved in the vasorelaxant effect were studied. RESULTS AVAE lowered blood pressure only in L-Name-induced hypertensive rats. Furthermore, AVAE (0.375-1.375 mg/ml) showed a vasodilator effect in isolated aortic rats. In addition, not all of the medications used in our study were responsible for the signaling pathway. As a result, additional pharmaceuticals are required to confirm the mechanism of this signaling pathway. CONCLUSION The aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga exerts an interesting antihypertensive activity, which could be mediated through its vasorelaxant activity. The study supports its use as a medicinal plant against hypertension in Morocco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smail Amtaghri
- Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia, 52000, Morocco
- Energy, materials and sustainable development (EMDD) Team- Higher School of Technology-SALE, Center for Water, Natural Resources Environment and Sustainable Development (CERNE2D), Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Adil Qabouche
- Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia, 52000, Morocco
| | - Miloudia Slaoui
- Energy, materials and sustainable development (EMDD) Team- Higher School of Technology-SALE, Center for Water, Natural Resources Environment and Sustainable Development (CERNE2D), Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Eddouks
- Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia, 52000, Morocco
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