5 of the Best Fruits to Eat for Antioxidants, According to Nutritionists
Eating antioxidant fruits is one of the simplest (and tastiest) ways to reduce your risk of disease. The reason? Antioxid…
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https://www.diningandcooking.com/2528161/5-of-the-best-fruits-to-eat-for-antioxidants-according-to-nutritionists/
Abstract It is known that, aside from lung parenchyma damage, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can compromise other organ systems and complicate the condition of pati ents with comorbid pathologies. A special group of such patients consists of people suffering from chronic illnesses, namely osteoarthritis. An important role in osteoarthritis pathogenesis is played by oxidative stress developed due to oxidant–antioxidant equilibrium disturbance and inflammation induction. The aim of the presented work was the estimation of several parameters of free radical process intensity and to analyze NOS2 and PTGS2 genes’ expression in blood of patients with osteoarthritis after beating the SARS-CoV2 infection. All participants were divided into three experimental groups with the same average age in every group. The first group (n = 25) included conditionally healthy people. The second group (n = 25) consisted of patients with II–III-degree knee joint osteoarthritis with the exclusion of possible concomitant coronavirus infection presence by performing epidemiological anamnesis of every patient as well as contacts with people having active COVID-19 disease. The third group (n = 25) were II–III-degree knee joint osteoarthritis patients, having already beaten COVID-19 illness of light or medium severity 6–9 months ago. The following parameters were elucidated: in blood plasma—superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide content and concentration of lipid peroxidation products; in whole blood—nitrogen oxide synthase (NOS2) and cyclooxygenase (PTGS2) gene expression. The results showed the increase in active oxygen radical content and lipid peroxidation product concentration in blood plasma from knee joint osteoarthritic patients also having active SARS-CoV-2 infection, and these increases were more pronounced compared to the patient group with knee joint osteoarthritis only. In blood, it was shown that the expression of the NOS2 gene increased (by 2.5 times in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joints compared to healthy donors and by 1.3 times in patients with osteoarthritis who had COVID-19, compared to the group of patients with osteoarthritis only) and the PTGS2 gene (by 2.3 times in patients with osteoarthritis compared to healthy volunteers and by 1.3 times in patients with osteoarthritis after SARS-CoV2 infection compared to the group of patients with osteoarthritis), which is associated with the development of oxidative stress and inflammation. The shown research parameter changes indicate more active intensification of free radical processes in blood of osteoarthritis patients that had beaten SARS-CoV2. Taking into consideration the obtained results, the assumption can be made about more severe disease progress and possibility of complications in osteoarthritis patients after SARS-CoV-2. Hence, these patients require a personalized approach in both COVID-19 and further osteoarthritis treatment after recovering from coronavirus infection.
Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the key stress metabolites involved in the functioning of the plant cell signaling network. However, its functional relationships with main signaling molecules, particularly nitric oxide (NO), are not well understood. This study aimed to determine NO’s involvement in GABA’s stress-protective effect on wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L., Etana cultivar) under model drought conditions (13% PEG 6000). Priming grains with a 0.5 mM GABA solution or a 0.1 mM solution of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) increased germination energy, seed germination, and water content in seedlings under stressful conditions. Additionally, GABA and SNP treatment mitigated the inhibitory effect of drought on the accumulation of root and shoot biomass. Osmotic stress increased NO content in shoots, and priming with GABA and SNP enhanced this effect. Treatment with the nitric oxide scavenger methylene blue (MB, 0.1 mM) eliminated the increase in NO content caused by stress or GABA action. MB also negated the positive effects of GABA on growth processes. Under the action of GABA and SNP, total amylase activity in grains and soluble carbohydrate content in shoots increased under stressful conditions; MB eliminated GABA’s effect on these parameters. Under the model drought, the content of oxidative stress markers (superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde) increased in shoots, but pretreatment of grains with GABA or SNP significantly reduced these effects. Osmotic stress caused an increase in activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase in shoots. Preliminary priming with GABA, SNP, and MB did not affect the nature of the changes in activity of these antioxidant enzymes caused by model drought. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase activity remained unchanged following exposure to the model drought; however, pretreatment seeds with GABA, SNP, and MB increased the enzyme activity. Priming seeds with GABA and SNP increased the total content of phenolic compounds in shoots and preserved the anthocyanin pool under stressful conditions, while MB treatment eliminated these effects. It was concluded that the enhancement of grain germination and seedling growth induced by GABA priming under model drought conditions is largely due to NO-mediated modulation of carbohydrate and secondary compound metabolism.
Flight & Brains, Feathers & Hair
June 03, 2020
Adaptation to flight has a big impact on antioxidant defenses; recently this paper came up in my feed:
Adaptation of the master antioxidant response connects metabolism, lifespan and feather development pathways in birds [2020] - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16129-4
“Birds (Aves) display high metabolic rates and oxygen consumption relative to mammals, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Although excess ROS reduces lifespan by causing extensive cellular dysfunction and damage, birds are remarkably long-lived. We address this paradox by identifying the constitutive activation of the NRF2 master antioxidant response in Neoaves (~95% of bird species), providing an adaptive mechanism capable of counterbalancing high ROS levels. We demonstrate that a KEAP1 mutation in the Neoavian ancestor disrupted the repression of NRF2 by KEAP1, leading to constitutive NRF2 activity and decreased oxidative stress in wild Neoaves tissues and cells. Our evidence suggests this ancient mutation induced a compensatory program in NRF2-target genes with functions beyond redox regulation—including feather development—while enabling significant metabolic rate increases that avoid trade-offs with lifespan. The strategy of NRF2 activation sought by intense clinical investigation therefore appears to have also unlocked a massively successful evolutionary trajectory.
The physiological risks of constitutive NRF2 activation due to loss of KEAP1 binding have been demonstrated in vivo through KEAP1 knockout mice, which die from starvation shortly after birth from hyperkeratosis of the gastrointestinal tract, likely through overexpression of α-keratins and loricrins in squamous cells (ref. 38; Fig. 4c). In addition to α-keratins, avian skin keratinocytes also express β-keratin genes, which combine with α-keratins to form avian skin appendages (feathers, scales, claws, beaks; ref. 3). ...
This strongly suggests that the NRF2-mediated regulation of β-keratins we detected in Chicken skin has been compensated for by the loss of AREs and downregulation of ARE binding by NRF2 at Neoaves β-keratin loci. This pattern closely mirrors the loss of NRF2-mediated ARE-regulation in Neoaves GSTA2 (Fig. 4b). Together these analyses provide in vivo evidence that the evolution of NRF2-associated feather development genes may have been shaped by the constitutive activation of NRF2 in Neoaves.”
This reminded me of some work on the evolution of large brain size in humans & loss of body hair:
Hair for brain trade-off, a metabolic bypass for encephalization [2014] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4190188/
“Hair loss in humans is perplexing and raises many hypothetical explanations. This paper suggests that hair loss in humans is metabolically related to encephalization; and that hair covered hominids would have been unable to evolve large brains because of a dietary restriction of several amino acids which are essential for hair and brain development. We use simulations to imply that hair loss must have preceded increase in brain size & volume. In this respect we see hair loss as a major force in human evolution. We assume that hair reduction required favorable climatic conditions and must have been quick. Using evolutionary and ecological time scales, we pinpoint hair loss to a period around 2.2-2.4 million years ago. The dating is further supported by a rapid selection at that time of the sialic acid deletion mutation which may have protected growing human brains against calcium ion flux. In summary we view encephalization, in part, as a metabolic trade-off between hair and brain. Other biochemical changes may have intervened in the process too; and the deletion mutation of sialic acid hydroxylation may have been involved as well.
Human hair is composed of about 17% cysteine, a sulphuric amino acid noted for its ability to add rigidity to biological tissue (Table 3).”
Cysteine is also a major component of glutathione and a rate limiter for its synthesis; glutathione production is regulated through Nrf2. The Dror & Hopp 2014 paper mentions glutathione briefly; if the theory presented is correct, the increased need for glutathione synthesis is likely the major driver. In short, humans may have lost their body hair because of the increased demand for cysteine to produce glutathione which is needed to manage oxidative stress in the brain.
Birds upregulated glutathione synthesis by constitutive upregulation of Nrf2 and also avoided the problem of hyperkeratosis through downregulation of ARE binding by NRF2 at β-keratin loci. They have more glutathione, still have all their feathers, and no hyperkeratosis.
It is possible humans lost hair first, which freed up cysteine to be used for glutathione, which then allowed for encephalization.
#Birds #cysteine #evolution #flight #HumanEvolution #OxidativeStress #KEAP1 #Nrf2
Fast metabolisms tend to shorten lifespans by increasing oxidative damage. This study identifies a gene mutation that keeps a key antioxidant response active, possibly allowing Neoaves bird species to avoid the tradeoff between rapid metabolism and longevity that challenges most mammals, including humans.
This is really interesting, especially that there a sex difference.
I'd like to write something about why, but am unable to do so at present.
Here's a old blog post I wrote on the topic of cysteine in birds and humans:
Flight & Brains, Feathers & Hair
June 03, 2020
https://rhyobrain.blogspot.com/2020/06/flight-brains-feathers-hair.html
#cysteine #Nrf2 #HumanEvolution #Birds #glutathione #OxidativeStress
This year’s GGMM meeting spotlighted multiscale simulations—from electron transfer in membranes to oxidative damage in nucleosomal DNA. Highlights: Aurélien de la Lande’s talk on NADPH oxidases, Natacha Gillet on ionization‑to‑repair pathways, and Mariia Avstrikova’s thesis on allosteric modulation of α7 nAChR. How do you tackle bridging such scales in your work? 🔬🧬 #MultiscaleSim #MolecularDynamics #OxidativeStress #OpenScience
Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress: How Science is Helping Your Brain
#BrainHealth #Neuroscience #HydrogenTherapy #OxidativeStress #Neuroinflammation #BrainRecovery #NeuroScience #MentalHealth #InnovativeMedicine #Neuroprotection
'The effect of antioxidants on the morphology and function of ovaries in rats inflammatory process (pregnancy) within the framework of the analysis of the assessment of their action and effectiveness on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes' - a Bulletin Of Medical And Biological Research article on #ScienceOpen:
📌 https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=14cb6417-373a-429f-8dca-79c2d55e6984
#ReproductiveBiology #AntioxidantResearch #PregnancyInflammation #OxidativeStress #OvarianHealth
<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d3987520e61">The study aimed to investigate the effect of various antioxidants on the morphological and functional characteristics of ovaries in pregnant Wistar rats under conditions of systemic inflammation. The experimental research was conducted on a total of 20 sexually mature female rats of the Wistar strain, which were divided into five subgroups with four animals in each. The rats were categorised into the following groups: a control group (no treatment), an inflammation-induced group (lipopolysaccharide treatment), and three antioxidant-treated groups, where systemic inflammation was induced and the females were treated with resveratrol, quercetin, or lycopene. Systemic inflammation was induced using lipopolysaccharide, and different antioxidants were administered to the treated subgroups over a specified period from May to June 2023. The research focused on examining the impact of these antioxidants on oocyte morphology, mitochondrial function, and the levels of reactive oxygen species and glutathione. Results indicated that antioxidant treatment significantly improved oocyte morphology by reducing abnormalities and restoring normal mitochondrial distribution. Rats in the antioxidant-treated group exhibited reduced levels of reactive oxygen species and elevated concentrations of glutathione, signalling a reduction in oxidative stress. Additionally, an increase in the expression of genes associated with antioxidant defence was observed, suggesting an enhanced antioxidant response. These findings imply that antioxidants can improve oocyte quality in cases of inflammation-induced oxidative stress, offering new insights for reproductive biology. The practical relevance of this work lies in its potential application in reproductive medicine, particularly for patients with inflammation-related infertility, where antioxidant therapies could contribute to improving oocyte quality and reproductive outcomes </p>
Tryptophan and the Kynurenine Pathway: Metabolic Routes Impacting Mood and Neurodegeneration
#BrainChemistry #Neuroimmune #KynureninePathway #GutBrainAxis #Neuroinflammation #Microglia #Astrocytes #Neurodegeneration #OxidativeStress #MentalHealth #BrainHealth #Metabolism #NervousSystem #DietAndBrain #Neuroscience
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