The antidepressant effect of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in chronic stress

BACKGROUND

Inflammation could be a risk factor for the development of depression and change the outcome of this common chronic-recurrent mental disorder.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate if bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation is effective in restoring sucrose preference in rats subjected to chronic stress (CS), if it has an anti-inflammatory effect and is able to restore damaged DNA.

METHODS

The effect of BMMC transplantation was studied in a controlled protocol (compared with a control group and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram group) involving sucrose preference in CS in rats. Measurements were taken of the amygdala, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and other brain areas, the spleen and blood pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. Finally, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a DNA damage marker) was determined.

RESULTS

BMMC transplantation was as effective as escitalopram in restoring sucrose preference. It also had an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly improved damaged DNA after one week.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest administration of BMMC in rats subjected to CS restores sucrose preference, resolves inflammation in both the peripheral and central nervous system, as well as diminishes DNA damage. This effect was similar to that of escitalopram, which is effective in the treatment of depressive patients.

Caffeine and high intensity exercise: Impact on purinergic and cholinergic signalling in lymphocytes and on cytokine levels

This study evaluated the effects of caffeine in combination with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on sensitivity to glucocorticoids and proliferation of lymphocytes, IL-6 and IL-10 levels and NTPDase, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in rat lymphocytes. The animals were divided into groups: control, caffeine 4 mg/kg, caffeine 8 mg/kg, HIIT, HIIT plus caffeine 4 mg/kg and HIIT plus caffeine 8 mg/kg. The rats were trained three times a week for 6 weeks for a total workload 23% of body weight at the end of the experiment. Caffeine was administered orally 30 min before the training session. When lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin no changes were observed in proliferative response between trained and sedentary animals; however, when caffeine was associated with HIIT an increase in T lymphocyte proliferation and in the sensitivity of lymphocytes to glucocorticoids occurred. ATP and ADP hydrolysis was decreased in the lymphocytes of the animals only trained and caffeine treatment prevented alterations in ATP hydrolysis. HIIT caused an increase in the ADA and AChE activity in lymphocytes and this effect was more pronounced in rats trained and supplemented with caffeine. The level of IL-6 was increased while the level of IL-10 was decreased in trained animals (HIIT) and caffeine was capable of preventing this exercise effect. Our findings suggest that caffeine ingestion attenuates, as least in part, the immune and inflammatory alterations following a prolonged HIIT protocol.

Association between advanced oxidation protein products and 5-year mortality risk among amazon riparian elderly population

Proteins are important targets of several modifications caused by oxidative stress, leading to structural changes and consequently partial or total loss of their functions. The oxidized proteins include advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) derived from oxidation-modified albumin, as well as fibrinogen and lipoproteins. An increase in AOPP levels indicates an oxidative stress state and the presence of coexisting inflammation. Several investigations have also suggested an association between high AOPP levels and aging-related diseases. However, the link between elevated AOPP levels and elderly mortality risk has not yet been investigated. Here, we report on a 5-year longitudinal study that investigated the potential association between AOPP levels and mortality using a population-based representative sample of riparian elders living in Brazilian Amazon region (Maués-AM). Age, sex, socioeconomic and cultural conditions, chronic morbidities, polypharmacy, and previous morbidities were also tested as potential confounders. The AOPP levels were measured in 540 (84.78%) individuals, all of whom were followed over a 5-year period in order to establish the mortality rate. Within this study period, 74 (13.7%) elders died and 466 (86.3%) survived. The AOPP levels were higher among the elders who died within the 5-year period (46.27 ± 40.6 mmol/L) compared with those who survived (36.79 ± 20.84 mmol/L) (p = 0.002). The analysis confirmed the link between high AOPP levels and mortality risk, independent of other intervenient factors. These results suggest that elevated AOPP levels could be used to predict mortality risk in elderly patients.

Estrogen plus progestin increase superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the behavior of blood antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase), plasma total antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage (lipid oxidation and protein carbonyl levels) and their relationship with the serum levels of steroid hormones in premenopausal and postmenopausal women without and with estrogen alone (ET) or estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT).

METHODS

Blood was collected from four groups of subjects: premenopausal women (n = 24), postmenopausal women without hormone therapy (n = 31), postmenopausal women with ET (n = 12) and postmenopausal women with EPT (n = 16).

RESULTS

The activities of the different SOD isoforms (CuZnSOD and MnSOD) and the plasma total antioxidant power were significantly higher in the postmenopausal women under EPT than in the postmenopausal women without hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Only CuZnSOD activity was increased in women receiving ET compared to the postmenopausal women without HRT. However, no differences were observed in the levels of lipid or protein oxidation or in the non-enzymatic plasma antioxidants (uric acid and albumin) among the groups. The duration of HRT and serum estrogen levels were positively correlated to the blood CuZnSOD activity and to plasma total antioxidant power, whereas the serum progesterone levels were positively correlated to CuZnSOD activity and negatively correlated to protein carbonyl groups. Interestingly, the total antioxidant power of plasma was positively correlated to CuZnSOD and glutathione peroxidase activities.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that EPT increases blood MnSOD and CuZnSOD activity in postmenopausal women, leading to an increased plasma total antioxidant capacity. This finding may be relevant to the prevention of oxidative stress-related disorders in postmenopausal women.

Enzymes that hydrolyze adenine nucleotides of patients with hypercholesterolemia and inflammatory processes

The activity of NTPDase (EC 3.6.1.5, apyrase, CD39) was verified in platelets from patients with increasing cholesterol levels. A possible association between cholesterol levels and inflammatory markers, such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein, highly sensitive C-reactive protein and oxidized low-density lipoprotein autoantibodies, was also investigated. Lipid peroxidation was estimated by measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum. The following groups were studied: group I, < 150 mg.dL(-1) cholesterol; group II, 151-200 mg.dL(-1) cholesterol; group III, 201-250 mg.dL(-1) cholesterol; and group IV, > 251 mg.dL(-1) cholesterol. The results demonstrated that both ATP hydrolysis and ADP hydrolysis were enhanced as a function of cholesterol level. Low-density lipoprotein levels increased concomitantly with total cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels were increased in the groups with total cholesterol above 251 mg.dL(-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were elevated in groups II, III, and IV. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein was elevated in the group with cholesterol levels higher than 251 mg.dL(-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein autoantibodies were elevated in groups III and IV. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content was enhanced as a function of cholesterol level. In summary, hypercholesterolemia is associated with enhancement of inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and ATP and ADP hydrolysis. The increased ATP and ADP hydrolysis in group IV was confirmed by an increase in CD39 expression on its surface. The increase in CD39 activity is possibly related to a compensatory response to the inflammatory and pro-oxidative state associated with hypercholesterolemia.