Group-Sensitization to Compounds of Quinone Structure and its Biochemical Basis; Role of these Substances in Cancer

Author(s):  
R. L. Mayer
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3755
Author(s):  
Jakub Rok ◽  
Zuzanna Rzepka ◽  
Justyna Kowalska ◽  
Klaudia Banach ◽  
Artur Beberok ◽  
...  

Minocycline is a drug which induces skin hyperpigmentation. Its frequency reaches up to 50% of treated patients. The adverse effect diminishes the great therapeutic potential of minocycline, including antibacterial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer actions. It is supposed that an elevated melanin level and drug accumulation in melanin-containing cells are related to skin hyperpigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate molecular and biochemical mechanism of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation in human normal melanocytes, as well as the contribution of UV radiation to this side effect. The experiments involved the evaluation of cyto- and phototoxic potential of the drug using cell imaging with light and confocal microscopes as well as biochemical and molecular analysis of melanogenesis. We showed that minocycline induced melanin synthesis in epidermal melanocytes. The action was intensified by UV irradiation, especially with the UVB spectrum. Minocycline stimulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase (TYR) gene. Higher levels of melanin and increased activity of tyrosinase were also observed in treated cells. Moreover, minocycline triggered the supranuclear accumulation of tyrosinase, similar to UV radiation. The decreased level of premelanosome protein PMEL17 observed in all minocycline-treated cultures suggests disorder of the formation, maturation or distribution of melanosomes. The study revealed that minocycline itself was able to enhance melanin synthesis. The action was intensified by irradiation, especially with the UVB spectrum. Demonstrated results confirmed the potential role of melanin and UV radiation minocycline-induced skin hyperpigmentation.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 967
Author(s):  
Micaely Cristina dos Santos Tenório ◽  
Nayara Gomes Graciliano ◽  
Fabiana Andréa Moura ◽  
Alane Cabral Menezes de Oliveira ◽  
Marília Oliveira Fonseca Goulart

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a medicine widely used to treat paracetamol overdose and as a mucolytic compound. It has a well-established safety profile, and its toxicity is uncommon and dependent on the route of administration and high dosages. Its remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity is the biochemical basis used to treat several diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation. The primary role of NAC as an antioxidant stems from its ability to increase the intracellular concentration of glutathione (GSH), which is the most crucial biothiol responsible for cellular redox imbalance. As an anti-inflammatory compound, NAC can reduce levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL-6 and IL-1β) by suppressing the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Despite NAC’s relevant therapeutic potential, in several experimental studies, its effectiveness in clinical trials, addressing different pathological conditions, is still limited. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the medicinal effects and applications of NAC to human health based on current therapeutic evidence.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 734-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Shanahan ◽  
J. A. Denburg ◽  
J. Bienenstock ◽  
A. D. Befus

Increasing evidence for the existence of inter- and intra-species mast cell heterogeneity has expanded the potential biological role of this cell. Early studies suggesting that mast cells at mucosal sites differ morphologically and histochemically from connective tissue mast cells have been confirmed using isolated intestinal mucosal mast cells in the rat and more recently in man. These studies also established that mucosal mast cells are functionally distinct from connective tissue mast cells. Thus, mucosal and connective tissue mast cells differ in their responsiveness to a variety of mast cell secretagogues and antiallergic agents. Speculation about the therapeutic use of antiallergic drugs in disorders involving intestinal mast cells cannot, therefore, be based on extrapolation from studies of their effects on mast cells from other sites. Regulatory mechanisms for mast cell secretion may also be heterogeneous since mucosal mast cells differ from connective tissue mast cells in their response to a variety of physiologically occurring regulatory peptides. The development of techniques to purify isolated mast cell sub-populations will facilitate future analysis of the biochemical basis of the functional heterogeneity of mast cells.


Author(s):  
Simerpreet Kukreja

Introduction: In maternal and neonatal cases, preeclampsia is a multi-organ, heterogeneous pregnancy condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Since preeclampsia is a progressive disease, in some cases, delivery is necessary to stop the progression to the benefit of the mother and foetus. However, the need for early delivery has adverse effects on significant neonatal outcomes that are not limited to the most premature babies. The results include oxidative stress in the disease and invoke the biochemical basis for antioxidant clinical trials to prevent and treat hypertension caused by pregnancy. In the management of preeclampsia, supplementation of antioxidants along with polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, may be useful. This describes vitamin Ds potential role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. However, the role of vitamin D supplementation and dosing is controversial in preventing preeclampsia. Method: The study was carried out from March 2019 to April 2020 at Shalinitai Meghe Hospital and Research Centre using institutional-based cross-sectional study design among women whose age was greater than or equal to eighteen. Data were collected using a standardised and pretested questionnaire from 150 participants by face-to - face interview technique. Using Chemiluminiscent Immunoassay (CLIA), vitamin D estimation was performed. The behaviour of Glutathione Reductase was calculated according to the Goldberg et al 1983 procedure. To classify the factors associated with the development of preeclampsia, logistic regression analysis was used. Result: With a mean age of 30.28, a total of 150 participants were enrolled in the study. Evaluation of vitamin D and glutathione levels The prevalence of preeclampsia among current pregnant women attending ANC at Shalinitai Meghe Hospital was 16 with a 95 % CI. The current preeclampsia was significantly correlated with predictive variables such as the age of the respondents, current multiple pregnancy, and history of diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that preeclampsia was present in a large proportion of women. For both urban and rural residents, health seeking actions towards pregnant women should be promoted, offering an opportunity to detect preeclampsia as early as possible and preventing the coming complication of preeclampsia. The role of antioxidants is controversial in the prevention of preeclampsia. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with preeclampsia in a major way. To document the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of preeclampsia, further studies are required.  Keywords: Gestational hypertension, Pre-eclampsia, Vitamin D, GSH


2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Smythies ◽  
Angela Iuliis ◽  
Lucia Zanatta ◽  
Lauro Galzigna

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (4) ◽  
pp. H1690-H1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pissarek ◽  
X. Bigard ◽  
P. Mateo ◽  
C. Y. Guezennec ◽  
J. A. Hoerter

The effects of chronic hypobaric hypoxia (CHH, 28 days, simulated altitude 5,500 m) on the cardiac expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and creatine kinase (CK) was studied in rat left (LV) and right (RV) ventricle. To separate the effects of hypoxia from its associated perturbations, anorexia and pulmonary hypertension (resulting in RV hypertrophy), CHH animals were compared with normoxic controls (C) and with rats restricted in food supply (pair fed, PF). In RV, the increased proportion of beta-MHC in CHH (20 +/- 3%) vs. C (7 +/- 2%, P < 0.01) and vs. PF (12 +/- 2%, P < 0.05) rats was mainly attributed to hypertension. In contrast, the higher beta-MHC of CHH (23 +/- 2%) vs. C (13 +/- 2%, P < 0.05) in LV was mainly ascribed to anorexia (PF = 21 +/- 3%, not significant). A major contribution of anorexia was also evidenced in the isozymic profile of CK; anorexia accounted for a 25% decrease in mito-CK specific activity in LV, whereas hypertension partly accounted for the threefold increase in BB-CK in RV. CHH specifically induced a twofold rise in LV BB-CK. This suggests that both the expression of slow myosin, improving the economy of contraction, and the changes in CK isozymic profile could provide a biochemical basis for the CHH resistance to ischemia.


FEBS Letters ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Pollakis ◽  
Erik Goormaghtigh ◽  
Jean-Marie Ruysschaert

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. G1179-G1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Lin ◽  
Pin Yue ◽  
Zhouji Chen ◽  
Gustav Schonfeld

To assess whether genetic factor(s) determine liver triglyceride (TG) levels, a 10-mouse strain survey of liver TG contents was performed. Hepatic TG contents were highest in BALB/cByJ, medium in C57BL/6J, and lowest in SWR/J in both genders. Ninety and seventy-six percent of variance in hepatic TG in males and females, respectively, was due to strain (genetic) effects. To understand the physiological/biochemical basis for differences in hepatic TG among the three strains, studies were performed in males of the BALB/cByJ, C57BL/6J, and SWR/J strains. In vivo hepatic fatty acid (FA) synthesis rates and hepatic TG secretion rates ranked BALB/cByJ ≈ C57BL/6J > SWR/J. Hepatic 1-14C-labeled palmitate oxidation rates and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations ranked in reverse order: SWR/J > BALB/cByJ ≈ C57BL/6J. After 14 h of fasting, plasma-free FA and hepatic TG contents rose most in BALB/cByJ and least in SWR/J. β-Hydroxybutyrate concentrations rose least in BALB/cByJ and most in SWR/J. Adaptation to fasting was most effective in SWR/J and least in BALB/cByJ, perhaps because BALB/cByJ are known to be deficient in SCAD, a short-chain FA oxidizing enzyme. To assess the role of insulin action, glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed. GTT-glucose levels ranked C57BL/6J > BALB/cByJ ≈ SWR/J. Thus strain-dependent (genetic) factors play a major role in setting hepatic TG levels in mice. Processes such as FA production and hepatic export in VLDL on the one hand and FA oxidation on the other, explain some of the strain-related differences in hepatic TG contents. Additional factor(s) in the development of fatty liver in BALB/cByJ remain to be demonstrated.


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