Platelet Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Reprogramming in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma

Mitochondrial bioenergetics reprogramming is an essential response of cells to stress. Platelets, an accessible source of mitochondria, have a crucial role in cancer development; however, the platelet mitochondrial function has not been studied in urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients. A total of 15 patients with UC and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. Parameters of platelet mitochondrial respiration were evaluated using the high-resolution respirometry method, and the selected antioxidant levels were determined by HPLC. In addition, oxidative stress was evaluated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration in plasma. We demonstrated deficient platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain functions, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and electron transfer (ET) capacity with complex I (CI)-linked substrates, and reduced the endogenous platelet coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) concentration in UC patients. The activity of citrate synthase was decreased in UC patients vs. controls (p = 0.0191). γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol in platelets, and β-carotene in plasma were significantly lower in UC patients (p = 0.0019; p = 0.02; p = 0.0387, respectively), whereas the plasma concentration of TBARS was increased (p = 0.0022) vs. controls. The changes in platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics are consistent with cell metabolism reprogramming in UC patients. We suppose that increased oxidative stress, decreased OXPHOS, and a reduced platelet endogenous CoQ10 level can contribute to the reprogramming of platelet mitochondrial OXPHOS toward the activation of glycolysis. The impaired mitochondrial function can contribute to increased oxidative stress by triggering the reverse electron transport from the CoQ10 cycle (Q-junction) to CI.

Association between the Serum Coenzyme Q10 Level and Seizure Control in Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a chronic neurological disorder with somatic impacts and increased risk of metabolic comorbidities. Oxidative stress might play an important role in metabolic effects and as a regulator of seizure control, while coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) could improve insulin sensitivity through antioxidant effects. We aimed to investigate the association between CoQ10 level and clinical outcome, represented by the seizure frequency and quality of life, in DRE patients. DRE patients (N = 33) had significantly higher serum insulin levels and lower scores on the physical domain of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQoL) than gender-age matched controls. The serum CoQ10 level (2910.4 ± 1163.7 ng/mL) was much higher in DRE patients than the normal range. Moreover, the serum CoQ10 level was significantly correlated with the seizure frequency (r = −0.412, p = 0.037) and insulin level (r = 0.409, p = 0.038). Based on stratification by insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.4), the subgroup analysis showed that patients with a greater HOMA-IR had higher CoQ10 levels and lower seizure frequency, and had a significantly worse quality of life. In summary, CoQ10 could be a mediator involved in the mechanism of epilepsy and serve as a biomarker of the clinical outcome in DER patients.

SO044ALPHA LIPOIC ACID COMPARED TO SELENIUM IN MITOCHONDRIAL RESUSCITATION AND MI RNA-126 EXPRESSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background and Aims anti-oxidants may decrease the risk of cardiovascular complications (CVC) in HD patients. We aimed to study antioxidant effect of Alpha lipoic acid and selenium on oxidative stress, endothelial repair, and mitochondrial functions in HD patients by evaluating the serum level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), miRNA-126, and CoQ10. Method 60 individuals were enrolled and randomized into 3 groups, G1; 22 HD patients as control, G2; 20 HD patients received Selenium, and G3;18 HD patients received. Serum levels of ROS, CoQ10, and miRNA-126 were assessed at base line and after three months treatment for all patients. Results At baseline, all groups were matched regarding their demographic data and target parameters. After three months, in G1; the serum level of ROS increased significantly (P < 0.05), CoQ10 didn't change significantly (P > 0.05), while the fold expression of miRNA-126 decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In G2,3; there were statistical significant changes in target parameters after the treatment, ROS level decreased significantly by 34%, and by 79%, CoQ10 mean levels increased significantly from 13.21 to 28.35, and from 13.46 to 36.43 ng/ml, mean fold expression of miRNA126, increased significantly by 6.94, and 10.54 folds, in Selenium and, Thiotacid groups respectively. The results showed that Thiotacid was better than Selenium in ROS level reduction, and CoQ10 level improvement, while no statistical significant difference between two drugs regarding miRNA126 level (P > 0.05). Conclusion Selenium and, Thiotacid reduce oxidative stress and also they enhancing the endothelial repairing, and improve mitochondrial functions and thus may reduce risk of CVC.

Ubiquinone Q10 and Protein Contents in Rabbit Meat in Relation to Primal Cut and Rearing System

The research material included 96 slaughter rabbit carcasses. Half of them came from the animals managed in small-scale backyard farming units where animals were fed a natural ingredient diet, while the other half was from rabbits kept under commercial production conditions and fed commercial rabbit pellets. The thigh and saddle muscle samples were collected from each carcass to establish a content of ubiquinone (CoQ10) and crude protein along with its collagen level. Determination of tissue coenzyme Q10 (UQ10) was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography with some modification. Crude protein concentration was estimated using Kjeldahl procedure, while total collagen content by the method of Stegemann modified by Hurych-Chvapil, using hydrolysis according to Möhler and Volley. Ubiquinone level in slaughter rabbit tissue ranged between 76 and 127 μg/g tissue. The studies indicated that rabbit rearing system and muscle type are determinants of CoQ10 content. Meat of rabbits managed under the traditional backyard farming system exhibited higher CoQ10 concentration as compared to that determined in rabbits from the commercial rabbitry. Additionally, the CoQ10 level in the saddle was significantly higher than that in the thigh muscles, and the relationships was noted in both types of rabbit production systems. When the CoQ10 content was expressed per gram of fibrillar protein, there were not significant differences between saddle and thigh muscles. The correlation coefficient between ubiquinone and fibrillar protein averaged to 0.94. The studies also demonstrated a higher protein level in the saddle than in thigh muscles. However, no differences in protein concentration were reported in respect to the rabbit farming system. The protein composition in the saddle muscles, irrespective of a rabbit production system, revealed significantly lower collagen content compared to the proteins in thigh muscles. The obtained results and data from literature provide evidence that rabbit meat, especially from the traditional (organic) management system, is one of the best sources of animal protein and ubiquinone Q10.