Effects of Aerobic Treadmill Training on Oxidative Stress Parameters, Metabolic Enzymes, and Histomorphometric Changes in Colon of Rats with Experimentally Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic treadmill training regimen of four weeks duration on oxidative stress parameters, metabolic enzymes, and histomorphometric changes in the colon of hyperhomocysteinemic rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 10, per group): C, 0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL/day subcutaneous injection (s.c.) 2x/day; H, homocysteine 0.45 µmol/g b.w./day s.c. 2x/day; CPA, saline (0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL/day s.c. 2x/day) and an aerobic treadmill training program; and HPA, homocysteine (0.45 µmol/g b.w./day s.c. 2x/day) and an aerobic treadmill training program. The HPA group had an increased level of malondialdehyde (5.568 ± 0.872 μmol/mg protein, p = 0.0128 vs. CPA (3.080 ± 0.887 μmol/mg protein)), catalase activity (3.195 ± 0.533 U/mg protein, p < 0.0001 vs. C (1.467 ± 0.501 U/mg protein), p = 0.0012 vs. H (1.955 ± 0.293 U/mg protein), and p = 0.0003 vs. CPA (1.789 ± 0.256 U/mg protein)), and total superoxide dismutase activity (9.857 ± 1.566 U/mg protein, p < 0.0001 vs. C (6.738 ± 0.339 U/mg protein), p < 0.0001 vs. H (6.015 ± 0.424 U/mg protein), and p < 0.0001 vs. CPA (5.172 ± 0.284 U/mg protein)) were detected in the rat colon. In the HPA group, higher activities of lactate dehydrogenase (2.675 ± 1.364 mU/mg protein) were detected in comparison to the CPA group (1.198 ± 0.217 mU/mg protein, p = 0.0234) and higher activities of malate dehydrogenase (9.962 (5.752-10.220) mU/mg protein) were detected in comparison to the CPA group (4.727 (4.562-5.299) mU/mg protein, p = 0.0385). Subchronic treadmill training in the rats with hyperhomocysteinemia triggers the colon tissue antioxidant response (by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase) and elicits an increase in metabolic enzyme activities (lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase). This study offers a comprehensive assessment of the effects of aerobic exercise on colonic tissues in a rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia, evaluating a range of biological indicators including antioxidant enzyme activity, metabolic enzyme activity, and morphometric parameters, which suggested that exercise may confer protective effects at both the physiological and morphological levels.

Effect of Percutaneous Biliary Drainage on Enzyme Activity of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Patients with Malignant Hilar Obstructive Hyperbilirubinemia

Background and Objectives. Cholestasis activates complex mechanisms of liver injury and as a result has an increased production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Depending on the stage of liver disease, different matrix metalloproteinases expressions have been detected and could serve as indirect biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets. MMP-9 proteolytic activity has a proven role in both liver regeneration and neoplastic cell invasion in various malignancies. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the effect of external biliary drainage on enzyme activity of MMP-9 in the serum of patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction. Materials and Methods. Between November 2020 and April 2021, 45 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction underwent percutaneous biliary drainage following determination of serum MMP-9 enzyme activity (before treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment) by gelatin zymography. Results. MMP-9 values decreased statistically significantly 4 weeks after percutaneous biliary drainage (p = 0.028) as well as the value of total bilirubin (p < 0.001), values of direct bilirubin (p < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.001), alanine transaminase (ALT) (p < 0.001), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p < 0.001). Conclusions. In patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction treated by external percutaneous biliary drainage for cholestasis resolution, a significant reduction in MMP-9 serum values was noted 4 weeks after the treatment.

Bioactivity and phenolics profile of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction

The aim of the study was to investigate the biological activity and chemical composition of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. LC-PDA/MS analyses for the aqueous extracts (A1-stem, leaves and flowers, A2-leaves and flowers) and ethyl-acetate extracts (E1-stem, leaves and flowers, E2-leaves and flowers) obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction enabled the identification of thirty-four compounds. Quantitative analysis revealed that the aqueous extract obtained from leaves and flowers was the richest in total phenolic acids (65.36 mg/g) and flavonoids (21.17 mg/g). The total polyphenol content was the highest in the aqueous extract obtained from leaves and flowers (274 ± 2.4 mg Gallic Acid equivalents/g). The best antioxidant activity was observed for the same extract using the DPPH (SC50 20 ± 10 µg/mL), ABTS (2.834 ± 0.02 mg Ascorbic Acid/g), FRAP (1.922 ± 0.03 mmol Fe²⁺/mg), and total reducing power tests (16.4 ± 1.0 mg Ascorbic Acid/g). Both ethyl acetate extracts were the most active against strains of Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus flavus (MIC 1.70-1.99 mg/mL and 1.99-3.41 mg/mL, respectively). They were more efficient against Aspergillus ochraceus (MFC 0.86 mg/mL) and towards HeLa cell lines. All the obtained results implied the good potential of the investigated extracts to be used as effective preservatives and functional ingredients in food products and dietary supplements.

The Role of MIF in Hepatic Function, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Thioacetamide-induced Liver Injury in Mice: Protective Effects of Betaine

BACKGROUND

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multipotent cytokine that contributes to the inflammatory response to chemical liver injury. This cytokine exhibits pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on the etiology and stage of liver disease.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to investigate the role of MIF in oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, and modulatory effects of betaine on MIF in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced chronic hepatic damage in mice.

METHODS

The experiment was performed on wild type and knockout MIF-/- C57BL/6 mice. They were divided into the following groups: control; Bet-group that received betaine (2% wt/v dissolved in drinking water); MIF-/- mice group; MIF-/-+Bet; TAA-group that received TAA (200 mg/kg b.w.), intraperitoneally, 3x/week/8 weeks); TAA+Bet; MIF-/-+TAA, and MIF-/-+TAA+Bet. In TAA- and Bet-treated groups, animals received the same doses. After eight weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and liver specimens were prepared for the assessment of parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation.

RESULTS

In MIF-/-mice, TAA reduced transaminases, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, bilirubin, malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative protein products (AOPP), total oxidant status (TOS), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, IFN-γ, and increased thiols and total antioxidant status (TAS). Betaine attenuated the mechanism of MIF and mediated effects in TAA-induced liver injury, reducing transaminases, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, bilirubin, MDA, AOPP, TOS, CRP, IL-6, IFN-g, and increasing thiols.

CONCLUSION

MIF is a mediator in hepatotoxic, pro-oxidative, and proinflammatoryeffects of TAA-induced liver injury. MIF-targeted therapy can potentially mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, but the exact mechanism of its action requires further investigation. Betaine increases anti-oxidative defense and attenuates hepatotoxic effects of MIF, suggesting that betaine can be used for the prevention and treatment of liver damage.

Phytochemical Properties of Satureja kitaibelii, Potential Natural Antioxidants: a New Insight

Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. has a great importance in Serbian ethnopharmacology/herbal traditional medicine, as well as a flavoring food additive. Ethanol extract of aerial parts of Satureja kitaibelii analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 18 compounds among which the most abundant were phenolic acids, flavonoids, jasmonic acid derivatives and rosmanol. The extracts were rich in total phenolics and flavonoid contents, while rosmarinic acid was the dominant compound (18.30-29.52 mg/g). As assessments of antioxidant properties of natural extracts are important because of their growing use in medicine and food industry, antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of Satureja kitaibelii was analyzed by several assays. The half maximal scavenging capacity (SC₅₀) of 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl ranging from 71.20 to 125.65 μg/mL, the total antioxidant capacity from 272.37 to 714.12 mg ascorbic acid/g, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power ranging from 0.74 to 1.94 μmol Fe/mg, clearly imply a significant antioxidant potential of Satureja kitaibelii. The extracts inhibit growth of Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with inhibition zones 20-30 and 16-26 mm, respectively. Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of compounds identified in extracts suggest a great potential for Satureja kitaibelii application as valuable food ingredient.

Cadmium specific proteomic responses of a highly resistantPseudomonas aeruginosasan ai

Pseudomonas aeruginosa san ai is a promising candidate for bioremediation of cadmium pollution, as it resists a high concentration of up to 7.2 mM of cadmium. Leaving biomass of P. aeruginosa san ai exposed to cadmium has a large biosorption potential, implying its capacity to extract heavy metal from contaminated medium. In the present study, we investigated tolerance and accumulation of cadmium on protein level by shotgun proteomics approach based on liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry coupled with bioinformatics to identify proteins. Size exclusion chromatography was used for protein prefractionation to preserve native forms of metalloproteins and protein complexes. Using this approach a total of 60 proteins were observed as up-regulated in cadmium-amended culture. Almost a third of the total numbers of up-regulated were metalloproteins. Particularly interesting are denitrification proteins which are over expressed but not active, suggesting their protective role in conditions of heavy metal exposure. P. aeruginosa san ai developed a complex mechanism to adapt to cadmium, based on: extracellular biosorption, bioaccumulation, the formation of biofilm, controlled siderophore production, enhanced respiration and modified protein profile. An increased abundance of proteins involved in: cell energy metabolism, including denitrification proteins; amino acid metabolism; cell motility and posttranslational modifications, primarily based on thiol-disulfide exchange, were observed. Enhanced oxygen consumption of biomass in cadmium-amended culture versus control was found. Our results signify that P. aeruginosa san ai is naturally well equipped to overcome and survive high doses of cadmium and, as such, has a great potential for application in bioremediation of cadmium polluted sites.

When exposed to cadmium a highly resistant strain P. aeruginosa san ai responds by an increased metalloprotein expression (particularly denitrification proteins), an enhanced respiration, and a pronounced thiol-disulfide protein modifications.