RESUMEN
Altered levels of selenium and copper have been linked with altered cardiovascular disease risk factors including changes in blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, it is unclear whether this can be observed prenatally. This cross-sectional study includes 274 singleton births from 2004 to 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. We measured umbilical cord serum selenium and copper using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We evaluated exposure levels vis-à-vis umbilical cord serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in multivariable regression models adjusted for gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, race, parity, smoking, prepregnancy body mass index, n-3 fatty acids and methyl mercury. The percent difference in triglycerides comparing those in the highest v. lowest quartile of selenium was 22.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.1, 39.7). For copper this was 43.8% (95% CI: 25.9, 64.3). In multivariable models including both copper and selenium as covariates, copper, but not selenium, maintained a statistically significant association with increased triglycerides (percent difference: 40.7%, 95% CI: 22.1, 62.1). There was limited evidence of a relationship of increasing selenium with increasing total cholesterol. Our findings provide evidence that higher serum copper levels are associated with higher serum triglycerides in newborns, but should be confirmed in larger studies.
Asunto(s)
Colesterol/sangre , Cobre/sangre , Sangre Fetal/química , Selenio/sangre , Triglicéridos/sangre , Baltimore , Peso al Nacer , Índice de Masa Corporal , Cromatografía Liquida , Cobre/metabolismo , Cotinina/sangre , Estudios Transversales , Edad Gestacional , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Espectrometría de Masas , Análisis de Regresión , Selenio/metabolismo , FumarRESUMEN
Reactive oxygen species are of interest in biology and medicine because of evidence relating them to aging and disease processes. A relatively simple but sensitive and reliable method for quantifying the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of antioxidants in biological tissues has been automated for use with the COBAS FARA II centrifugal analyzer with a fluorescence-measuring attachment. In this assay, beta-phycoerythrin (beta-PE) is used as an indicator protein, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a peroxyl radical generator, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) as a calibrator for antioxidant activity. This assay is unique because the reaction goes to completion so that both inhibition time and inhibition degree are considered in quantifying ORAC (micromoles of Trolox equivalent per liter or per gram of tissue). This method can be used not only for serum but also other tissue and food samples and is suitable for application to a range of nutritional and clinical conditions.
Asunto(s)
Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/análisis , Animales , Radicales Libres , Humanos , Hígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Infarto del Miocardio/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas F344RESUMEN
An assay for the simultaneous measurement of nitrite and nitrate, products of nitric oxide metabolism, is described. Others have reported pretreating sample by using nitrate reductase (NR) and NADPH to reduce endogenous NO3- before assaying the resultant NO2- using the Griess reaction. However, we found that the NADP+ formed during pretreatment interfered with the Griess reaction when NADPH was used at concentrations necessary to drive the NR reaction. For instance, 500 microM NADP+ in 100 microM NaNO3- (without NR) causes a 90% interference with the formation of Griess reaction product. To limit interference, we modified the method by decreasing the NADPH concentration to 1 microM. NADPH was regenerated by coupling the NR reaction with that catalyzed by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GD). Using this method, NaNO3- standard curves were linear up to 100 microM and coincided with control curves obtained using NaNO2- incubated in parallel. Addition of urine up to a strength of 20% did not interfere with the assay. Comparison with an alternative assay based on cadmium reduction resulted in the following linear regression: [Cd method] = 0.915*[NR-GD method] + 0.37, r2 = 0.997. Coupling GD to NR to recycle NADPH allows this cofactor to be used at a low concentration so that interference with the Griess reaction is negligible.
Asunto(s)
Glucosafosfato Deshidrogenasa/metabolismo , NADP/metabolismo , Nitrato Reductasas/metabolismo , Nitratos/metabolismo , Nitritos/metabolismo , Animales , Glucosa-6-Fosfato , Glucosafosfato Deshidrogenasa/farmacología , Glucofosfatos/metabolismo , Humanos , Cinética , Masculino , NAD/metabolismo , Nitrato-Reductasa , Nitrato Reductasas/farmacología , Nitratos/análisis , Nitratos/orina , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Nitritos/análisis , Nitritos/orina , Oxidación-Reducción , RatasRESUMEN
We have isolated and characterized a mouse gene encoding liver (B-type) phosphofructokinase, a key regulatory enzyme in glycolysis. The gene spans approximately 21.5 kilobase pairs and consists of 22 exons. Compared with the muscle (A-type) phosphofructokinase gene, the sizes of the introns are different although exon lengths are highly conserved. Two transcription start sites 10 bases apart were determined by primer extension experiments. The immediate 5' sequence does not possess a TATA or CCAAT box but contains multiple GC boxes (positions -10, -43, -50, -62, and +28 in the 5'-untranslated region) which may be Sp1-binding sites. An unusual feature of 200 base stretches of CT repeats is present at position -480 to -693. In addition, direct repeats of CTCGAAGGAG are found at positions -447 and -478. DNase I footprinting showed five regions where liver nuclear proteins may interact. Two proximal 5'-flanking regions spanning -1 to -20 and -30 to -70, which contain GC boxes. Also protected was a region spanning -70 to -90, which contains an AP-1 like sequence (TCAGTCA). The consensus AP-1 sequence, however, did not inhibit footprinting, indicating involvement of a distinct protein. Two distal regions spanning from -450 to -470 and from -500 to -520 were also protected. The former is positioned between the direct repeats and the latter is at the start of the CT repeats. The rate of transcription of the liver phosphofructokinase gene, as measured by run-on assays, increased 5-fold in livers of previously starved mice fed a high carbohydrate diet compared to starved controls. Administration of dibutyryl cAMP blocked the increase in transcription caused by refeeding. Functional analysis of the promoter region of the gene will be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by fasting/refeeding and by cAMP. These results provide a useful system for the study of regulatory elements in liver phosphofructokinase gene transcription.
Asunto(s)
Regulación Enzimológica de la Expresión Génica , Hígado/enzimología , Fosfofructoquinasa-1/genética , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Transcripción Genética , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , ADN , Desoxirribonucleasa I , Ingestión de Alimentos , Exones , Ayuno , Intrones , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mapeo RestrictivoRESUMEN
The effect of dietary vitamin E on the intermembrane transfer of (3R)-alpha-tocopherol, a spontaneous process accelerated in the presence of an alpha-tocopherol binding protein (alpha TBP), was examined. The transfer activity of this cytosolic liver protein was assayed via in vitro transfer of (3R)-alpha-[3H]tocopherol (alpha[3H]T) from egg lecithin liposomes to human erythrocyte ghosts (EG). Male Fisher 344 rats (1 and 20 months old) were fed diets containing 0, 30, and 500 mg/kg vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) for 15 weeks. Liver cytosol fractions were assayed for alpha[3H]T transfer activity (alpha TTA). Among young rats, those fed vitamin E-deficient diets had the highest alpha TTA, 5.02 +/- 3.10 pmole alpha[3H]T/min (mean +/- SD), which was different (P less than 0.05) from the spontaneous transfer rate of 2.10 pmole/min. Neither young rats fed 30 and 500 mg/kg vitamin E diets nor any of the aged rats showed alpha TTA which differed significantly from the spontaneous transfer rate. To examine the relationship between hepatic alpha-tocopherol levels and alpha TTA, alpha-tocopherol concentration per gram of wet liver was assayed by HPLC. A steep positive slope (6.39 +/- 1.46 pmole min-1 nmole g-1) and strong correlation (r = 0.873) between hepatic alpha-tocopherol and alpha TTA were observed (P less than 0.005) among young vitamin E-deficient rats. The data indicates that alpha TTA varies directly with hepatic alpha-tocopherol concentration when total liver vitamin E stores are very low. Thus, alpha TBP-mediated transfer of alpha-tocopherol may be manifest only when vitamin E status is compromised.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Portadoras/fisiología , Dieta , Membranas Intracelulares/metabolismo , Vitamina E/administración & dosificación , Envejecimiento , Animales , Citosol/metabolismo , Citosol/fisiología , Transferencia de Energía/efectos de los fármacos , Membranas Intracelulares/fisiología , Hígado/metabolismo , Hígado/fisiología , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas F344 , Vitamina E/metabolismo , Vitamina E/fisiologíaRESUMEN
A model system consisting of donor membrane (egg lecithin liposomes) and acceptor membrane (human erythrocyte ghosts or rat liver mitochondria) were used to investigate the alpha-tocopherol binding protein (alpha TBP) mediated transfer of alpha-tocopherol. Liposomes containing RRR-[alpha-3H]tocopherol ([alpha-3H]T) were incubated with acceptor membrane at 37 degrees C for 0-45 min in the presence or absence of rat liver cytosol or a dialyzed 30-60% saturated ammonium sulfate precipitated fraction of rat liver cytosol (Fraction B). Erythrocyte ghosts and liver mitochondria were compared and found to behave similarly in the presence of Fraction B. alpha-Tocopherol transfer activity (alpha TTA) typically varied 0- to 27-fold greater than buffer blanks, depending upon type and concentration of protein preparation. Gel filtration of Fraction B yielded one alpha TTA peak (liver mitochondria as acceptor) with an estimated Mr of 39,000. [alpha-3H]T recovered from erythrocyte ghosts pellets by HPLC suggest that the [alpha-3H]T was transferred intact. alpha TTA of Fraction B in the presence of varying concentrations of erythrocyte ghosts and liposomal [alpha-3H]T followed saturation kinetics. Optimal concentrations gave alpha TTA responses directly proportional to rat liver cytosol concentration. alpha TTA was inhibited only 5% in the presence of a 32-fold excess of cold liposomal alpha-tocopheryl acetate suggesting that the free hydroxyl group on the chromanol ring of alpha-tocopherol is needed for transfer. Coefficient of variation of repeated measures of alpha TTA in rat liver cytosol was 2.9%. Thus, the intermembrane transfer phenomenon of alpha-tocopherol can be studied quantitatively and can be used to compare liver protein preparations exhibiting transfer activity.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Vitamina E/metabolismo , Animales , Cromatografía en Gel , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Citosol/metabolismo , Membrana Eritrocítica/metabolismo , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Liposomas/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Mitocondrias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Fósforo/análisis , RatasRESUMEN
The potential for vitamin E to modulate prostaglandin metabolism and alter immune response in aged mice was studied. Semi-purified diets containing 30 ppm or 500 ppm dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (VitE) were fed for 6 weeks to young (3 months) and old (24 months) C57BL/6J mice. Delayed hypersensitivity skin test to DNFB and the proliferative response of splenocytes to T- and B-cell mitogens were assessed. Ex-vivo synthesis of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in spleen homogenates and serum vitamin E was measured by HPLC. Vitamin E supplementation of aged mice enhanced percent ear swelling to DNFB as well as the mitogenic response of splenocytes to Con A and LPS (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, spleen homogenates from old mice fed 30 ppm VitE had a significantly higher PGE2 level than young mice fed 30 ppm VitE and old mice fed 500 ppm VitE (3.20 +/- 0.07 micrograms/g vs. 2.60 +/- 0.08 and 2.3 +/- 0.10, respectively). Thus, the vitamin E enhanced immune response of aged mice appears to be mediated by decreased prostaglandin synthesis.