D-Alpha-Tocopherol

The possible protection of cultured human cells from acute dioxin injury by antioxidants was investigated. The most potent dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), caused vacuolization of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells and cervical cancer cells. Subsequent nuclear damage included a deep irregular indentation resulting in cell death. A dosage of 30–40 ng/mL TCDD induced maximal intracellular production of H2O2 at 30 minutes and led to severe cell death (0–31% survival) at two hours. A dose of 1.7 mM alpha-tocopherol or 1 mM L-dehydroascorbic acid significantly protected human cells against acute TCDD injuries (78–97% survivals), but vitamin C did not provide this protection. These results indicate that accidental exposure to fatal doses of TCDD causes cytoplasmic free radical production within the smooth endoplasmic reticular systems, resulting in severe cytotoxicity, and that vitamin E and dehydroascorbic acid can protect against TCDD-induced cell damage.

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The Oral Intake of Organic Germanium, Ge-132, Elevates α-Tocopherol Levels in the Plas-ma and Modulates Hepatic Gene Expression Profiles to Promote Immune Activation in Mice

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000205 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (3-4) ◽

pp. 0183-0195 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Takashi Nakamura ◽

Tomoya Takeda ◽

Yoshihiko Tokuji

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Activation ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Alpha Tocopherol ◽

Hepatic Gene Expression ◽

Tocopherol Concentration ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Atp Production ◽

Transfer Protein

The common water-soluble organic germanium compound poly-trans-[(2-carboxyethyl) germasesquioxane] (Ge-132) exhibits activities related to immune responses and antioxidant induction. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative effect of dietary Ge-132 in the plasma of mice. Male ICR mice (seven mice per group) received an AIN-76 diet with 0.05 % Ge-132; three groups received the Ge-132-containing diet for 0, 1 or 4 days. The plasma alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) concentration increased from 6.85 to 9.60 μg/ml after 4 days of Ge-132 intake (p < 0.05). We evaluated the changes in hepatic gene expression related to antioxidative activity as well as in the entire expression profile after one day of Ge-132 intake, using DNA microarray technology. We identified 1,220 genes with altered expression levels greater than 1.5-fold (increased or decreased) as a result of Ge-132 intake, and α-tocopherol transfer protein (Ttpa) gene expression was increased 1.62-fold. Immune activation was identified as the category with the most changes (containing 60 Gene Ontology (GO) term biological processes (BPs), 41 genes) via functional clustering analysis of altered gene expression. Ge-132 affected genes in clusters related to ATP production (22 GO term BPs, 21 genes), lipid metabolism (4 GO term BPs, 38 genes) and apoptosis (5 GO term BPs). Many GO term BPs containing these categories were significantly affected by the Ge-132 intake. Oral Ge-132 intake may therefore have increased plasma α-tocopherol levels by up-regulating α-tocopherol transfer protein (Ttpa) gene expression.

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High Antibody Levels to Prothrombin Imply a Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Middle-aged Men

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1657711 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 78 (04) ◽

pp. 1178-1182 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Timo Palosuo ◽

Jarmo Virtamo ◽

Jari Haukka ◽

Philip R Taylor ◽

Kimmo Aho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Venous Thrombosis ◽

Deep Venous Thrombosis ◽

Plasma Proteins ◽

Alpha Tocopherol ◽

Index Number ◽

Thromboembolic Events ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Phospholipid Binding ◽

Antiprothrombin Antibodies

SummaryAntibodies against phospholipid-binding plasma proteins, such as β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) and prothrombin, are associated with thromboembolic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and also in subjects with no evident underlying diseases. We wanted to examine whether increased levels of antibodies to negatively-charged phospholipids (cardiolipin), to phospholipid-binding plasma proteins β2-GPI and prothrombin and to oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were associated with risk of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in subjects with no previous thrombosis. The antibodies were measured in stored serum samples from 265 cases of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity or pulmonary embolism occurring during a median follow-up of about 7 years and from 265 individually matched controls. The study subjects were middle-aged men participating in a cancer prevention trial of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene and the cases of thromboembolic events were identified from nationwide Hospital Discharge Register.The risk for thrombotic events was significantly increased only in relation to antiprothrombin antibodies. As adjusted for body mass index, number of daily cigarettes and history of chronic bronchitis, myocardial infarction and heart failure at baseline, the odds ratio per one unit of antibody was 6.56 (95% confidence interval 1.73-25.0). The seven highest individual optical density-unit values of antiprothrombin antibodies were all confined to subjects with thromboembolic episodes.In conclusion, the present nested case-control study showed that high autoantibody levels against prothrombin implied a risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and could be involved in the development of the thrombotic processes.

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