Does Heat Shock Enhance Oxidative Stress? Studies with Ferrous and Ferric Iron

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a stroke subtype associated with high morbidity and mortality. With breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and entry of toxic blood components and metabolites within the brain, a highly oxidative environment ensues and leads to a toxic neuroinflammatory cascade. A major cause of the debilitation following brain hemorrhage is due to the direct toxicity of blood components, notably hemoglobin (Hb), the most upstream precipitating factor in the cascade. The acute phase plasma protein haptoglobin (Hp) binds Hb and inhibits its cytotoxic, pro-oxidative, and pro-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated whether the local and specific overexpression of Hp would aid in the safe detoxification and clearance of free Hb, thereby protecting the neuropil from Hb-mediated oxidative stress and improving ICH outcomes. Hp was overexpressed locally within the brain using uniquely designed adeno-associated viral vectors and ICH was induced using the intrastriatal autologous whole blood injection model. Functional outcomes were assessed by a 24-point neurological deficit score. At 72h post-hemorrhage, mice were sacrificed and brains collected for histological staining. Hp-overexpressing mice demonstrated smaller lesion volumes (p<0.05) with less blood accumulation (p<0.05) and improve neurologic status after ICH (p<0.05) when compared to an identically treated control group (n=11-13/group). Histological staining for Iba-1, GFAP, heme oxygenase-1, 4-hydroxynonenal, ferric iron, and myeloperoxidase was performed and revealed: 1) significantly less heme oxygenase-1 expression and lipid peroxidation, 2) a trend towards reduced peripheral neutrophil infiltration, 3) significantly increased cortical microgliosis and cortical and striatal astrogliosis, and 4) no changes in ferric iron content or striatal microgliosis. In conclusion, Hp overexpression in the brain reduces ICH-induced brain injury and improves functional outcomes. Locally modulating brain Hp levels could represent an important clinically relevant strategy for the treatment of ICH.

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Effect of Morus alba root bark extract on gene-level expression of inflammatory markers in rats subjected to ethanol and cerulein induced pancreatitis– influence of heat shock protein 70

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2017-0149 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Kavitha Yuvaraj ◽

Arumugam Geetha

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Heat Shock ◽

Morus Alba ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Root Extract ◽

Root Bark ◽

Nf Kappa B ◽

Serum Lipase ◽

Hsp70 Mrna ◽

Caspase 1

Abstract Background Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a persistent inflammation of the pancreas clinically presented with severe abdominal pain, progressive fibrosis, and loss of exocrine and endocrine functions. Inflammasomes, cytosolic multiprotein complexes which regulate the formation of proinflammatory cytokines, are influenced by various factors including heat shock proteins (HSPs). Morus alba L., or white mulberry root bark is a valued traditional Asian medicine with a diverse array of phytochemicals. The aim of this investigation was to define the modulatory action of methanolic extract of Morus alba root bark (MEMARB) on NLRP3 inflammasome, and HSPs in pancreas subjected to inflammatory insult. Methods Pancreatitis was induced in male albino Wistar rats by ethanol (0–36%) and cerulein (20 µg/kg b.wt., i.p.) for 5 weeks with or without MEMARB administration. Serum lipase/amylase (L/A) ratio, oxidative stress index (OSI) and reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio in the pancreas were evaluated. Levels of serum HSP70 was quantified by ELISA. NF-kappa B, NLRP3-ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and HSP70 gene expression was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results L/A ratio and oxidative stress determined in terms of OSI and GSH/GSSG ratio were elevated in pancreatitis-induced rats. The levels were restored in MEMARB co-administered animals. Serum level of HSP70 was increased in pancreatitis-induced animals and dropped significantly in MEMARB co-administrated rats. Pancreatitis-induced group showed increased expression of NF-kappa B, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, NLRP3-ASC and HSP70 mRNA than in MEMARB treated group. Conclusions It can be concluded that the M. alba root extract modulates the expression of HSP70 and NLRP3-ASC which might be attributed to its pancreato-protective effect.

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