RESUMO
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder, usually diagnosed during the third trimester of pregnancy that usually disappears after delivery. In GDM, the excess of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids results in foetuses large for gestational age. Hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance accelerate the metabolism, raising the oxygen demand, and creating chronic hypoxia and inflammation. Women who experienced GDM and their offspring are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic or cardiovascular conditions later in life. Genetic factors may predispose the development of GDM; however, they do not account for all GDM cases; lifestyle and diet also play important roles in GDM development by modulating epigenetic signatures and the body's microbial composition; therefore, this is a condition with a complex, multifactorial aetiology. In this context, we revised published reports describing GDM-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), DNA methylation and microRNA expression in different tissues (such as placenta, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and peripheral blood), and microbial composition in the gut, oral cavity, and vagina from pregnant women with GDM, as well as the bacterial composition of the offspring. Altogether, these reports indicate that a number of SNPs are associated to GDM phenotypes and may predispose the development of the disease. However, extrinsic factors (lifestyle, nutrition) modulate, through epigenetic mechanisms, the risk of developing the disease, and some association exists between the microbial composition with GDM in an organ-specific manner. Genes, epigenetic signatures, and microbiota could be transferred to the offspring, increasing the possibility of developing chronic degenerative conditions through postnatal life.
Assuntos
Diabetes Gestacional , Gravidez , Feminino , Humanos , Obesidade/complicações , Terceiro Trimestre da Gravidez , Glucose , Epigênese GenéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of diabetes that occurs for the first time during pregnancy, may predispose the development of chronic degenerative diseases and metabolic alterations in mother and offspring. DNA methylation and microRNA (miRNA) expression are regulatory mechanisms of gene expression that may contribute to the pathogenesis of GDM. Therefore, we determined global DNA methylation and miR-126-3p expression levels in 8 and 7 Mexican women with and without GDM, respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS: Global DNA methylation was assessed by measuring the percentage of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) in placenta, umbilical cord, and plasma DNA samples, whereas miR-126-3p expression was quantified by real-time PCR using the 2-ΔCt method of the corresponding RNA samples. A significant increase in the percentage of 5-mC was detected in placenta samples from GDM patients compared to healthy women, while plasma samples showed a significant decrease. Conversely, miR-126-3p expression levels were significantly higher in plasma from the GDM group, while placenta and umbilical cord samples showed no significant differences across experimental groups. Furthermore, DNA methylation correlated significantly with glucose levels in placenta and plasma. Likewise, miR-126-3p expression correlated significantly with plasma glucose, in addition to maternal body mass index (BMI at first trimester). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that GDM is associated with alterations in global DNA methylation levels and miR-126-3p expression in placenta and/or plasma, providing insights into future novel approaches to diagnose and/or prevent this pathology.
Assuntos
Diabetes Gestacional , MicroRNAs , Gravidez , Humanos , Feminino , Diabetes Gestacional/genética , Metilação de DNA/genética , Projetos Piloto , Placenta/metabolismo , MicroRNAs/metabolismoRESUMO
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, underlies tissue development and repair. Some medicinal plant-derived compounds can modulate the angiogenic response. Heliopsis longipes, a Mexican medicinal plant, is widely used because of its effects on pain and inflammation. The main bioactive phytochemicals from H. longipes roots are alkamides, where affinin is the most abundant. Scientific studies show various medical effects of organic extracts of H. longipes roots and affinin that share some molecular pathways with the angiogenesis process, with the vasodilation mechanism of action being the most recent. This study investigates whether pure affinin and the ethanolic extract from Heliopsis longipes roots (HLEE) promote angiogenesis. Using the aortic ring rat assay (ex vivo method) and the direct in vivo angiogenesis assay, where angioreactors were implanted in CD1 female mice, showed that affinin and the HLEE increased vascular growth in a dose-dependent manner in both bioassays. This is the first study showing the proangiogenic effect of H. longipes. Further studies should focus on the mechanism of action and its possible therapeutic use in diseases characterized by insufficient angiogenesis.
Assuntos
Asteraceae/química , Etanol/química , Neovascularização Fisiológica/efeitos dos fármacos , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Alcamidas Poli-Insaturadas/farmacologia , Animais , Aorta Torácica/efeitos dos fármacos , Estrutura Molecular , Compostos Fitoquímicos/química , Compostos Fitoquímicos/isolamento & purificação , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Raízes de Plantas/química , Plantas Medicinais , Alcamidas Poli-Insaturadas/química , Alcamidas Poli-Insaturadas/isolamento & purificação , RatosRESUMO
Oxidative stress in aquatic organisms might suppress the immune system and propagate infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of polyphenolic extracts from spent coffee grounds (SCG) against oxidative stress, induced by H2O2, in C. viridis brain cells, through an in vitro model. Hydrophilic extracts from SCG are rich in quinic, ferulic and caffeic acids and showed antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ORAC and FRAP assays. Furthermore, pretreatment of C. viridis brain cells with the polyphenolic extracts from SCG (230 and 460 µg/mL) for 24 h prior to 100 µM H2O2 exposure (1 h) significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and reduced lipid peroxidation (measured by MDA levels). These results suggest that polyphenols found in SCG extracts exert an antioxidative protective effect against oxidative stress in C. viridis brain cells by stimulating the activity of SOD and CAT.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/química , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Café/química , Perciformes/metabolismo , Animais , Antioxidantes/isolamento & purificação , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Encéfalo/citologia , Catalase/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Coffea/química , Proteínas de Peixes/metabolismo , Pesqueiros , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/química , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/isolamento & purificação , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/farmacologia , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/farmacologia , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Polifenóis , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
Monogeneans are parasitic flatworms that may be a threat for finfish aquaculture. In this study, the anthelmintic activity of two terpenes, geraniol and ß-citronellol, was tested in vitro against ancyrocephalin and diplectanid monogeneans. Experiments were performed in both water and a culture medium. We observed that monogeneans in culture medium may be more tolerant to treatments compared with bioassays performed only in water. Concentrations of 300 mg/L of both compounds were required to kill 100% of monogeneans at 1 h postexposure. The toxicity of ß-citronellol to fish was not evaluated. However, geraniol at 300 mg/L and 150 mg/L killed juvenile Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and White Snook Centropomus viridis, respectively, after a few minutes. Therefore, the present work suggests that other alternatives should be studied for use against monogeneans in aquaculture.
Assuntos
Monoterpenos Acíclicos , Ciclídeos , Perciformes , Trematódeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Monoterpenos Acíclicos/efeitos adversos , Monoterpenos Acíclicos/farmacologia , Animais , Anti-Helmínticos/efeitos adversos , Anti-Helmínticos/farmacologia , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are interdependent multifactorial processes that cannot be understood separately. Obesity leads to systemic inflammation and increased levels of free fatty acids that provoke IR and lipotoxicity. At the same time, IR exacerbates adipose cell dysfunction, resulting in chronic inflammation and major lipotoxic effects on nonadipose tissues. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine (4-OHIle), a peculiar nonprotein amino acid isolated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds, exhibits interesting effects on IR related to obesity. 4-OHIle increases glucose-induced insulin release, and the insulin response mediated by 4-OHIle depends on glucose concentration. The beneficial effects observed are related to the regulation of blood glucose, plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acid levels, and the improvement of liver function. The mechanism of action is related to increased Akt phosphorylation and reduced activation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Here, we present a review of the research regarding the insulinotropic and insulin-sensitising activity of 4-OHIle in in vitro and in vivo models.
Assuntos
Resistência à Insulina , Isoleucina/análogos & derivados , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológico , Trigonella/química , Animais , Glucose/metabolismo , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Isoleucina/farmacologia , Isoleucina/uso terapêutico , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/fisiopatologia , Testes de Função Hepática , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases/efeitos dos fármacos , Obesidade/metabolismo , Obesidade/fisiopatologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
This study investigated the effect of a ß-x200B;hydroxyphosphonate analog of Ê-carnitine (L-CA) (CAS number: 1220955-x200B;20-3, Component: 1221068-91-2, C12H29NO4PI), (3-Hexanaminium, 1-(dimethoxyphosphinyl)-2-hydroxy-N,N,N,5-x200B;tetramethy-iodide (1:1), (2R, 3S)) on parameters related with type-2 diabetes in an in vitro model. Nontoxic concentrations of L-CA were assayed and compared to commercial Ê-carnitine effects. L-CA did not affect adipogenesis in normal cells, but an increment of TG accumulation was observed on insulin-resistant adipocytes (80%) when compared with resistant control. L-CA also stimulated glucose analog 2-NBDG uptakes on insulin-resistant adipocytes in a similar way as insulin when compared to insulin-resistant cells. Our results show that the L-CA promoted insulin-like responses on insulin-resistant adipocytes without appreciable pro-adipogenic effect in sensitive adipocytes.
Assuntos
Adipócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Carnitina/análogos & derivados , Carnitina/farmacologia , Resistência à Insulina , Células 3T3-L1 , 4-Cloro-7-nitrobenzofurazano/análogos & derivados , 4-Cloro-7-nitrobenzofurazano/metabolismo , Adipócitos/metabolismo , Adipogenia/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Desoxiglucose/análogos & derivados , Desoxiglucose/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Hipoglicemiantes/farmacologia , CamundongosRESUMO
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2 analogs of L-carnitine on rats made insulin resistant by a high-fructose diet. METHODS: Using rats made insulin resistant by a high-fructose diet, we investigated the impact of 2 analogs of L-carnitine (25 mg/kg) and L-carnitine (250 mg/kg) on glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol blood levels, and liver glycogen. We also evaluated the safety of both analogs by the assessment of some biochemical and hematological parameters, a histological analysis and a study of embryotoxicity. RESULTS: Both analogs reduced the levels of triglycerides in the liver and plasma, but only analog 2 reduced the cholesterol levels in insulin-resistant rats. No changes were observed in glycogen content. Safety evaluations revealed alterations in blood lymphocytes and embryotoxicity data. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the 2 analogs maintain the pharmacological properties of L-carnitine but have a different efficacy, potency and toxicity.