Skip to main content

Home/ Dr. Goodyear/ Group items tagged human

Rss Feed Group items tagged

Nathan Goodyear

Bisphenol A Promotes Human Prostate Stem-Progenitor Cell Self-Renewal and Increases In ... - 0 views

  • these findings show that estrogen stimulates human prostate epithelial stem cell self-renewal and progenitor cell amplification (prostasphere size), with the greatest effects observed at lower E2 doses.
  • Similar to E2, BPA increased prostasphere number and size with significant and maximal effects observed at 10 nM BPA
  • Taken together, these results provide strong evidence that, similar to E2, BPA increases stem cell self-renewal and progenitor amplification in normal human prostate epithelial cells
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • these findings provide further support that E2 and BPA maintain the stem-like state within the normal prostate epithelial cell population
  • Our previous findings demonstrated that normal prostate stem-progenitor cells within the prostaspheres expressed ERα and ERβ, implicating them as direct targets for E2 and BPA action
  • p-Akt and p-Erk, well established downstream targets of membrane-associated ERs
  • BPA and E2 had equimolar capacity for activation of these rapid signaling pathways in human prostaspheres, thus identifying a dynamic and robust signaling pathway initiated by low-dose BPA exposure in prostate stem-progenitor cells.
  • these findings indicate that both rapid membrane-initiated estrogen action and genomic ER signaling pathways are operative in human prostate progenitor cells.
  • these results document the fact that levels of bioactive BPA in the present study are similar to levels found in human umbilical cord blood and newborns in the general population
  • the present findings identify for the first time that in vivo exposure of the human prostate epithelium to low doses of BPA significantly increases the susceptibility of the human prostate epithelium to hormonal carcinogenesis.
  • The current study provides clear evidence that, similar to E2, normal human prostate stem and progenitor cells are direct targets for BPA action
  • Both hormones increased stem-like cell numbers in primary prostate epithelial cultures in a dose-dependent manner and augmented the number and size of 3-D cultured prostaspheres, markers of stem cell self-renewal and progenitor cell proliferation, respectively
  • signaling pathways engaged by estrogens through these separate receptors are multiple and complex, including both membrane-initiated signaling and genomic activation via ER transcriptional activity
  • Estrogen action is mediated by ERα and ERβ
  • the current results indicate that developmental exposure to BPA, at doses routinely found in humans, significantly increases the cancer risk in human prostate epithelium in response to elevated estrogen levels in an androgen-supported milieu. Because relative estrogen levels rise in aging men, we suggest that humans may be susceptible to BPA-driven prostate disease in a manner similar to that in the rodent models.
  • We propose that early-life perturbations in estrogen signaling including inappropriate exposure to BPA have the potential to amplify and modify the stem-progenitor cell populations within the human prostate gland and, in so doing, alter the normal homeostatic mechanisms that maintain a growth neutral state throughout life
  •  
    Bisphenol A exposure in utero found to increase prostate cancer risk later in life.  This exposure occurred at typical life exposure levels as found in umbilical cord blood sampling,  This occurred through stem cell self-renewal and progenitor amplification
Nathan Goodyear

Plant miRNAs found in human circulating system provide evidences of cross kingdom RNAi - 0 views

  • Plant miRNA miR168a was found to present in the sera of mammals including human and regulate human gene LDLRAP1
  • plant miRNAs can present within human circulating system through dietary intake and regulate human gene expression emerged. Broccoli sourced miR159 was found in human sera and proved to inhibit breast cancer growth through targeting the gene TCF7
  • This miRNA, with same 6mer and 7mer-A1 target seed sequence as hsa-miR-4259 and hsa-miR-4715-5p, was predicted to target human JAK-STAT signaling pathway gene SPRY4 and transcription regulation genes through miRTar
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • plant miRNAs present in human circulating system were proven to be able to target human genes
  •  
    Plant microRNA found in human serum.  Previous studies have shown that these plant microRNA's can interact with the human genome.
Nathan Goodyear

Demystified . . . Human endogenous retroviruses - 0 views

  • HERVs have been inherited by successive generations and it is possible that some have conferred biological benefits
  • However, several HERVs have been implicated in certain cancers and autoimmune diseases
  • HERVs constitute about 1% of the human genome
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent footprints of previous retroviral infection and have been termed “fossil viruses”
  • HERVs possess a similar genomic organisation to present day exogenous retroviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T cell leukaemia virus (HTLV)
  • Retroviruses in effect are retrograde, because the flow of genetic information is reversed compared with the normal pathway of molecular biosynthesis—DNA → RNA → protein. Indeed, all retroviruses necessitate the conversion of viral RNA into a cDNA intermediary, which is catalysed by the enzyme reverse transcriptase
  • Overall, human endogenous retroviruses constitute about 1% of the human genome”
  • some HERVs have been implicated in certain autoimmune diseases and cancers
  • A unit of sugar, phosphate, and base is strictly termed a nucleotide
  • human genes are composed of exons, which are transcribed and translated into amino acids
  • introns, which are interspersed between exons and represent non-translated regions that contribute to the large size of some genes
  • convincing argument for the possible involvement of HERVs in malignancy
  • HERVs may be involved in carcinogenesis by virtue of the expression of HERV mRNA,26 functional proteins,27 or retroviral-like particles
  • They may also be associated with the generation of new promoters29 or the activation of proto-oncogenes
  • inhibition of an effective immune response,
  • encode immunosuppressive proteins
  • “It has been suggested that HERV-K may be important in the progression of testicular germ cell tumours through inhibition of an effective immune response”
  • HERV-K might be important in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer
  • activation of proto-oncogenes of the ras family is common in many tumour types, and some studies have suggested a potential role for HERVs in ras activation
  •  
    good review of HERVs.
Nathan Goodyear

Testosterone: a vascular hormone in health and disease - 0 views

  • Testosterone has beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors, which include cholesterol, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation
  • In clinical studies, acute and chronic testosterone administration increases coronary artery diameter and flow, improves cardiac ischaemia and symptoms in men with chronic stable angina and reduces peripheral vascular resistance in chronic heart failure.
  • testosterone is an L-calcium channel blocker and induces potassium channel activation in vascular smooth muscle cells
  • ...54 more annotations...
  • Animal studies have consistently demonstrated that testosterone is atheroprotective, whereas testosterone deficiency promotes the early stages of atherogenesis
  • there is no compelling evidence that testosterone replacement to levels within the normal healthy range contributes adversely to the pathogenesis of CVD (Carson & Rosano 2011) or prostate cancer (Morgentaler & Schulman 2009)
  • bidirectional effect between decreased testosterone concentrations and disease pathology exists as concomitant cardiovascular risk factors (including inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance) are known to reduce testosterone levels and that testosterone confers beneficial effects on these cardiovascular risk factors
  • Achieving a normal physiological testosterone concentration through the administration of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been shown to improve risk factors for atherosclerosis including reducing central adiposity and insulin resistance and improving lipid profiles (in particular, lowering cholesterol), clotting and inflammatory profiles and vascular function
  • It is well known that impaired erectile function and CVD are closely related in that ED can be the first clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis often preceding a cardiovascular event by 3–5 years
  • no decrease in the response (i.e. no tachyphylaxis) of testosterone and that patient benefit persists in the long term.
  • free testosterone levels within the physiological range, has been shown to result in a marked increase in both flow- and nitroglycerin-mediated brachial artery vasodilation in men with CAD
  • Clinical studies, however, have revealed either small reductions of 2–3 mm in diastolic pressure or no significant effects when testosterone is replaced within normal physiological limits in humans
  • Endothelium-independent mechanisms of testosterone are considered to occur primarily via the inhibition of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCCs) and/or activation of K+ channels (KCs) on smooth muscle cells (SMCs)
  • Testosterone shares the same molecular binding site as nifedipine
  • Testosterone increases the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and enhances nitric oxide (NO) production
  • Testosterone also inhibited the Ca2+ influx response to PGF2α
  • one of the major actions of testosterone is on NO and its signalling pathways
  • In addition to direct effects on NOS expression, testosterone may also affect phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5 (PDE5A)) gene expression, an enzyme controlling the degradation of cGMP, which acts as a vasodilatory second messenger
  • the significance of the action of testosterone on VSMC apoptosis and proliferation in atherosclerosis is difficult to delineate and may be dependent upon the stage of plaque development
  • Several human studies have shown that carotid IMT (CIMT) and aortic calcification negatively correlate with serum testosterone
  • t long-term testosterone treatment reduced CIMT in men with low testosterone levels and angina
  • neither intracellular nor membrane-associated ARs are required for the rapid vasodilator effect
  • acute responses appear to be AR independent, long-term AR-mediated effects on the vasculature have also been described, primarily in the context of vascular tone regulation via the modulation of gene transcription
  • Testosterone and DHT increased the expression of eNOS in HUVECs
  • oestrogens have been shown to activate eNOS and stimulate NO production in an ERα-dependent manner
  • Several studies, however, have demonstrated that the vasodilatory actions of testosterone are not reduced by aromatase inhibition
  • non-aromatisable DHT elicited similar vasodilation to testosterone treatment in arterial smooth muscle
  • increased endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression and phosphorylation were observed in testosterone- and DHT-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells
  • Androgen deprivation leads to a reduction in neuronal NOS expression associated with a decrease of intracavernosal pressure in penile arteries during erection, an effect that is promptly reversed by androgen replacement therapy
  • Observational evidence suggests that several pro-inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin 1β (IL1β), IL6, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and highly sensitive CRP) and serum testosterone levels are inversely associated in patients with CAD, T2DM and/or hypogonadism
  • patients with the highest IL1β concentrations had lower endogenous testosterone levels
  • TRT has been reported to significantly reduce TNFα and elevate the circulating anti-inflammatory IL10 in hypogonadal men with CVD
  • testosterone treatment to normalise levels in hypogonadal men with the MetS resulted in a significant reduction in the circulating CRP, IL1β and TNFα, with a trend towards lower IL6 compared with placebo
  • parenteral testosterone undecanoate, CRP decreased significantly in hypogonadal elderly men
  • Higher levels of serum adiponectin have been shown to lower cardiovascular risk
  • Research suggests that the expression of VCAM-1, as induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα or interferon γ (IFNγ (IFNG)) in endothelial cells, can be attenuated by treatment with testosterone
  • Testosterone also inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL6, IL1β and TNFα in a range of cell types including human endothelial cells
  • decreased inflammatory response to TNFα and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human endothelial cells when treated with DHT
  • The key to unravelling the link between testosterone and its role in atherosclerosis may lay in the understanding of testosterone signalling and the cross-talk between receptors and intracellular events that result in pro- and/or anti-inflammatory actions in athero-sensitive cells.
  • testosterone functions through the AR to modulate adhesion molecule expression
  • pre-treatment with DHT reduced the cytokine-stimulated inflammatory response
  • DHT inhibited NFκB activation
  • DHT could inhibit an LPS-induced upregulation of MCP1
  • Both NFκB and AR act at the transcriptional level and have been experimentally found to be antagonistic to each other
  • As the AR and NFκB are mutual antagonists, their interaction and influence on functions can be bidirectional, with inflammatory agents that activate NFκB interfering with normal androgen signalling as well as the AR interrupting NFκB inflammatory transcription
  • prolonged exposure of vascular cells to the inflammatory activation of NFκB associated with atherosclerosis may reduce or alter any potentially protective effects of testosterone
  • DHT and IFNγ also modulate each other's signalling through interaction at the transcriptional level, suggesting that androgens down-regulate IFN-induced genes
  • (Simoncini et al. 2000a,b). Norata et al. (2010) suggest that part of the testosterone-mediated atheroprotective effects could depend on ER activation mediated by the testosterone/DHT 3β-derivative, 3β-Adiol
  • TNFα-induced induction of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin as well as MCP1 and IL6 was significantly reduced by a pre-incubation with 3β-Adiol in HUVECs
  • 3β-Adiol also reduced LPS-induced gene expression of IL6, TNFα, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2 (PTGS2)), CD40, CX3CR1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, MMP9, resistin, pentraxin-3 and MCP1 in the monocytic cell line U937 (Norata et al. 2010)
  • This study suggests that testosterone metabolites, other than those generated through aromatisation, could exert anti-inflammatory effects that are mediated by ER activation.
  • The authors suggest that DHT differentially effects COX2 levels under physiological and pathophysiological conditions in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells and via AR-dependent and -independent mechanisms influenced by the physiological state of the cell
  • There are, however, a number of systematic meta-analyses of clinical trials of TRT that have not demonstrated an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events or mortality
  • The TOM trial, which was designed to investigate the effect of TRT on frailty in elderly men, was terminated prematurely as a result of an increased incidence of cardiovascular-related events after 6 months in the treatment arm
  • trials of TRT in men with either chronic stable angina or chronic cardiac failure have also found no increase in either cardiovascular events or mortality in studies up to 12 months
  • Evidence may therefore suggest that low testosterone levels and testosterone levels above the normal range have an adverse effect on CVD, whereas testosterone levels titrated to within the mid- to upper-normal range have at least a neutral effect or, taking into account the knowledge of the beneficial effects of testosterone on a series of cardiovascular risk factors, there may possibly be a cardioprotective action
  • The effect of testosterone on human vascular function is a complex issue and may be dependent upon the underlying androgen and/or disease status.
  • the majority of studies suggest that testosterone may display both acute and chronic vasodilatory effects upon various vascular beds at both physiological and supraphysiological concentrations and via endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms
  •  
    Good deep look into the testosterone and CVD link.
Nathan Goodyear

Progesterone metabolites regulate induction, growth, and suppression of estrogen- and p... - 0 views

  • in vitro studies had shown that the progesterone metabolites, 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5αP) and 3α-dihydroprogesterone (3αHP), respectively, exhibit procancer and anticancer effects on receptor-negative human breast cell lines
  • Onset and growth of ER/PR-negative human breast cell tumors were significantly stimulated by 5αP and inhibited by 3αHP
  • When both hormones were applied simultaneously, the stimulatory effects of 5αP were abrogated by the inhibitory effects of 3αHP and vice versa
  • ...31 more annotations...
  • Treatment with 3αHP subsequent to 5αP-induced tumor initiation resulted in suppression of further tumorigenesis and regression of existing tumors
  • Tumorigenesis of ER/PR-negative breast cells is significantly enhanced by 5αP and suppressed by 3αHP, the outcome depending on the relative concentrations of these two hormones in the microenvironment in the breast regions
  • The findings show that the production of 5αP greatly exceeds that of 3αHP in ER/PR-negative tumors and that treatment with 3αHP can effectively block tumorigenesis and cause existing tumors to regress
  • hypothesis that a high 3αHP-to-5αP concentration ratio in the microenvironment may foster normalcy in noncancerous breast regions.
  • a large proportion (about 30% to 60%) of breast tumors are ER and/or PR negative
  • about 90% of normal proliferating breast epithelial cells are receptor negative
  • Our previous in vitro studies had shown that breast tissues and cell lines readily convert progesterone to 5α-pregnanes, such as 5αP, and delta-4-pregnenes, such as 3αHP (Figure ​(Figure1),1), and that tumorous breast tissues [15] and tumorigenic breast cell lines [16] produce higher levels of 5αP and lower levels of 3αHP than do normal breast tissues and nontumorigenic cell lines
  • The progesterone metabolism studies suggested that increases in 5αP and decreases in 3αHP production accompany the shift toward breast cell neoplasia and tumorigenicity
  • In vitro studies on five different human breast cell lines showed that cell proliferation and detachment are significantly increased by 5αP and decreased by 3αHP
  • the prevailing theory of hormonal regulation of breast cancer, as well as hormone-based therapies, revolves around estrogen and/or progesterone and ER/PR-positive breast cells and tumors.
  • Not only do these "receptor-negative" breast cancers fail to benefit from current hormonal therapies, but they also generally exhibit more-aggressive biologic behaviors and poorer prognosis than the receptor-positive ones
  • The results of the studies reported here show for the first time that the progesterone metabolites, 5αP and 3αHP, act as hormones that regulate ER/PR-negative breast tumor formation, growth, and regression
  • The onset of the ER/PR-negative human breast cell tumors in mice was considerably accelerated, and the growth significantly stimulated, by just one or two applications of 5αP
  • In contrast, 3αHP retarded onset of tumor formation, suppressed tumor growth, and inhibited or regressed existing 5αP-induced tumors
  • When both hormones were administered simultaneously, the effects of one were abrogated by the effects of the other.
  • The 5αPR and 3αHPR (which are associated with the plasma membranes of both ER/PR-positive [19] and ER/PR-negative [29] cells) are distinct from each other and from known ER, PR, androgen, and corticosteroid receptors, and lack affinity for other steroids, such as progesterone, estrogen, androgens, corticosteroids, and other progesterone metabolites
  • Levels of 5αPR are upregulated by 5αP itself and estradiol, and downregulated by 3αHP in both ER/PR-positive and -negative cells
  • ndications are that 5αP acts via the surface receptor-linked mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; Erk1/2) pathway; 5αP significantly stimulates activation of Erk1/2 [30], increases the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio [18] and actin depolymerization [31], and decreases expression of actin and adhesion plaque-associated vinculin [31], resulting in decreased apoptosis and increased mitosis and cell detachment
  • 3αHP appears to suppress protein kinase C (PKC), phospholipase C (PLC), Ca2+ mobilization (unpublished observations), and the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio [18], and increases expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor p21 [18], resulting in increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation and detachment of breast cell lines.
  • serum from mice with tumors had significantly more 5αP than 3αHP
  • the tumors, which on average had about threefold higher concentrations of 5αP than the respective sera, and >10-fold higher 5αP than 3αHP levels
  • Previous in vitro metabolism studies showed that human breast tumor tissues convert significantly more progesterone to 5α-pregnanes like 5αP and less to 4-pregnenes like 3αHP than do paired normal (nontumorous) tissues
  • Similar differences in progesterone metabolism and enzyme gene expressions were observed between tumorigenic and nontumorigenic breast cell lines
  • breast carcinomas are able to synthesize progesterone
  • The current findings, along with the previous in vitro studies, suggest that the relative concentrations of 5αP and 3αHP in the breast microenvironment constitute important autocrine/paracrine determinants not only for tumorigenesis but also for potential regression of tumors and the maintenance of normalcy of ER/PR-negative breast cells/tissues.
  • Evidence presented here shows that a high concentration of 5αP, relative to 3αHP in the microenvironment, promotes initiation and growth of tumors, whereas a higher concentration of 3αHP, relative to 5αP, suppresses tumorigenesis and promotes normalcy
  • 5α-reductase and 5αPR levels are upregulated by 5αP
  • in the 3αHP-treated mice, the elevated 3αHP levels, relative to 5αP, in the microenvironment could have opposed progression to xenograft neoplasia by its inherent anticancer actions and the suppression of 5αP synthesis and 5αPR expression
  • the opposing actions of the progesterone metabolites also appear to exert some control over the estrogen-regulated effects on breast cancer by their ability to modulate ER numbers in ER-positive cells
  • because both ER/PR-negative and ER/PR-positive, as well as normal and tumorigenic human breast cell lines, have been shown to respond to 5αP and 3αHP in vitro, it is suggested that these endogenously produced progesterone metabolites may also play regulatory hormonal roles in ER/PR-positive breast cancers, as well as in the maintenance of normalcy in nontumorous breast tissues.
  • The in vivo data provide further evidence that progesterone metabolites, such as 5αP and 3αHP, deserve to be considered as active hormones in their own right, rather than inactive waste products
  •  
    Progesterone metabolites and breast cancer
Nathan Goodyear

http://omicsonline.org/open-access/detection-of-glyphosate-residues-in-animals-and-huma... - 0 views

  •  
    Glyophosate found to be increased in the urine of animals and humans eating GMO food products.  Interesting association that "ill" humans had higher urinary glyophosate levels.  What is defined as "ill" is left to be determined. But clearly, glyophosate is not the innocent product that we have told it was.
Nathan Goodyear

The river blindness drug Ivermectin and related macrocyclic lactones inhibit WNT-TCF pa... - 0 views

  • WNT signaling
  • early colon cancers commonly display loss of function of the tumor suppressor Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a key component of the β-CATENIN destruction complex
  • Other cancers also show an active canonical WNT pathway; these include carcinomas of the lung, stomach, cervix, endometrium, and lung as well as melanomas and gliomas
  • ...31 more annotations...
  • In normal embryogenesis and homeostasis, the canonical WNT pathway is activated by secreted WNT ligands produced in highly controlled context-dependent manners and in precise amounts. WNT activity is transduced in the cytoplasm, inactivates the APC destruction complex, and results in the translocation of activate β-CATENIN to the nucleus, where it cooperates with DNA-binding TCF/LEF factors to regulate WNT-TCF targets and the ensuing genomic response
  • beyond the loss of activity of the APC destruction complex, for instance throughAPC mutation, phosphorylation of β-CATENIN at C-terminal sites is required for the full activation of WNT-TCF signaling and the ensuing WNT-TCF responses in cancer.
  • The WNT-TCF response blockade that we describe for low doses of Ivermectin suggests an action independent to the deregulation of chloride channels
  • involve the repression of the levels of C-terminally phosphorylated β-CATENIN forms and of CYCLIN D1, a critical target that is an oncogene and positive cell cycle regulator.
  • the Avermectin single-molecule derivative Selamectin, a drug widely used in veterinarian medicine (Nolan & Lok, 2012), is ten times more potent acting in the nanomolar range
  • Ivermectin also diminished the protein levels of CYCLIN D1, a direct TCF target and oncogene, in both HT29 and H358 tumor cells
  • Activated Caspase3 was used as a marker of apoptosis by immunohistochemistry 48 h after drug treatment. Selamectin and Ivermectin induced up to a sevenfold increase in the number of activated Caspase3+ cells in two primary (CC14 and CC36) and two cell line (DLD1 and Ls174T) colon cancer cell types (Fig​(Fig2C).2C). All changes were significative
  • The strong downregulation of the expression of the intestinal stem cell genesASCL2 andLGR5 (van der Flieret al, 2009; Scheperset al, 2012; Zhuet al, 2012b) by Ivermectin and Selamectin (Fig​(Fig2D)2D) raised the possibility that these drugs could affect WNT-TCF-dependent colon cancer stem cell behavior
  • Pre-established H358 tumors responded to Ivermectin showing a ˜ 50% repression of growth
  • Ivermectin hasin vivo efficacy against human colon cancer xenografts sensitive to TCF inhibition with no discernable side effects
  • Ivermectin (Campbellet al, 1983), an off-patent drug approved for human use, and related macrocyclic lactones, have WNT-TCF pathway response blocking and anti-cancer activities
  • these drugs block WNT-TCF pathway responses, likely acting at the level of β-CATENIN/TCF function, affecting β-CATENIN phosphorylation status.
  • anti-WNT-TCF activities of Ivermectin and Selamectin
  • Ivermectin has a well-known anti-parasitic activity mediated via the deregulation of chloride channels, leading to paralysis and death (Hibbs & Gouaux, 2011; Lynagh & Lynch, 2012). The same mode of action has been suggested to underlie the toxicity of Ivermectin for liquid tumor cells and the potentiation or sensitization effect of Avermectin B1 on classical chemotherapeutics
  • the specificity of the blockade of WNT-TCF responses we document, at low micromolar doses for Ivermectin and low nanomolar doses for Selamectin, indicate that the blockade of WNT-TCF responses and chloride channel deregulation are distinct modes of action
  • What is key then is to find a dose and a context where the use of Ivermectin has beneficial effects in patients, paralleling our results with xenografts in mice.
  • Cell toxicity appears at doses greater (> 10 μM for 12 h or longer or > 5 μM for 48 h or longer for Ivermectin) than those required to block TCF responses and induce apoptosis.
  • Our data point to a repression of WNT-β-CATENIN/TCF transcriptional responses by Ivermectin, Selamectin and related macrocylic lactones.
  • (i) The ability of Avermectin B1 to inhibit the activation of WNT-TCF reporter activity by N-terminal mutant (APC-insensitive) β-CATENIN as detected in our screen
  • (ii) The ability of Avermectin B1, Ivermectin, Doramectin, Moxidectin and Selamectin to parallel the modulation of WNT-TCF targets by dnTCF
  • (iii) The finding that the specific WNT-TCF response blockade by low doses of Ivermectin and Selamectin is reversed by constitutively active TCF
  • (iv) The repression of key C-terminal phospho-isoforms of β-CATENIN resulting in the repression of the TCF target and positive cell cycle regulator CYCLIN D1 by Ivermectin and Selamectin
  • (v) The specific inhibition ofin-vivo-TCF-dependent, but notin-vivo-TCF-independent cancer cells by Ivermectin in xenografts.
  • These results together with the reduction of the expression of the colon cancer stem cell markersASCL2 andLGR5 (e.g., Hirschet al, 2013; Ziskinet al, 2013) raise the possibility of an inhibitory effect of Ivermectin, Selamectin and related macrocyclic lactones on TCF-dependent cancer stem cells.
  • the capacity of cancer cells to form 3D spheroids in culture, as well as the growth of these, is also WNT-TCF-dependent (Kanwaret al, 2010) and they were also affected by Ivermectin treatment
  • If Ivermectin is specific, it should only block TCF-dependent tumor growth. Indeed, the sensitivity and insensitivity of DLD1 and CC14 xenografts to Ivermectin treatment, respectively, together with the desensitization to Ivermectin actionin vivo by constitutively active TCF provide evidence of the specificity of this drug to block an activated WNT-TCF pathway in human cancer.
  • Ivermectin has a good safety profile since onlyin-vivo-dnTCF-sensitive cancer xenografts are responsive to Ivermectin treatment, and we have not detected side effects in Ivermectin-treated mice at the doses used
  • previous work has shown that side effects from systemic treatments with clinically relevant doses in humans are rare (Yang, 2012), that birth defects were not observed after exposure of pregnant mothers (Pacquéet al, 1990) and that this drug does not cross the blood–brain barrier (Kokozet al, 1999). Similarly, only dogs with mutantABCB1 (MDR1) alleles leading to a broken blood–brain barrier show Ivermectin neurotoxicity (Mealeyet al, 2001; Orzechowskiet al, 2012)
  • Indications may include treatment for incurable β-CATENIN/TCF-dependent advanced and metastatic human tumors of the lung, colon, endometrium, and other organs.
  • Ivermectin, Selamectin, or related macrocyclic lactones could also serve as topical agents for WNT-TCF-dependent skin lesions and tumors such as basal cell carcinomas
  • they might also be useful as routine prophylactic agents, for instance against nascent TCF-dependent intestinal tumors in patients with familial polyposis and against nascent sporadic colon tumors in the general aging population
  •  
    Ivermectin, a common anti-parasitic, found to inhibit WTF-TCF pathway and decrease c-terminal phosophorylaiton of Beta-CATENIN all resulting in increased aptosis and inhibition of cancer growth in colon cancer cell lines and lung cancer cell lines.
Nathan Goodyear

In vivo loss-of-function screens identify KPNB1 as a new druggable oncogene in epitheli... - 0 views

  • we functionally validated a potent EOC oncogene, KPNB1, and showed its clinical relevance to human EOC
  • a well-established antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, has antitumor effects on EOC through its inhibition of KPNB1
  • EOC has high intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity at the molecular and epigenetic levels
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • the mortality rate of EOC has not been significantly changed for several decades
  • Sequencing revealed that almost all tumors (96%) had mutations in TP53, which serves as a major driver of this cancer
  • Low-prevalence but statistically significant mutations in nine other genes including NF1, BRCA1, BRCA2, RB1, and CDK12 were also identified, but the majority of genes were mutated at low frequency, making it difficult to distinguish between driver and passenger mutations
  • KPNB1 inhibition via any of three KPNB1 siRNAs or importazole treatment induced apoptosis in human EOC cell lines (Fig. 3 A–F and Fig. S4), and was accompanied by an increase in the expression levels of the proapoptotic proteins BAX and cleaved caspase-3
  • Stable overexpression of KPNB1 in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 (Fig. S6) significantly accelerated cell proliferation/survival (Fig. 5 A–C), confirming that KPNB1 functions as an oncogene in EOC
  • KPNB1 overexpression significantly decreased caspase-3/7 activity (Fig. 5D), in addition to the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and BAX proteins (Fig. 5E). KPNB1 overexpression also decreased p21 and p27 protein levels (Fig. 5E), as opposed to their increase by KPNB1 inhibition
  • KPNB1 functions as an antiapoptotic and proproliferative oncogene in EOC.
  • Patients with higher expression levels of KPNB1 showed earlier recurrence and worse prognosis than those with lower expression levels of KPNB1
  • KPNB1 acts as an oncogene in human EOC and represents a promising therapeutic target.
  • ivermectin treatment suppressed cell proliferation/viability in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 7A), indicating that it exerts an antitumor effect on EOC
  • ivermectin also induced apoptosis
  • ivermectin increased the expression levels of BAX, and cleaved PARP, as well as p21 and p27
  • KPNB1 inhibition is responsible for the antitumor effect of ivermectin
  • we found that ivermectin synergistically reduced cell proliferation/viability in combination with paclitaxel in human EOC cells
  • Single treatment of ivermectin or paclitaxel reduced tumor growth in nude mice, but, notably, combination treatment of ivermectin and paclitaxel almost completely suppressed tumor growth
  • ERBB2, is amplified and overexpressed in many cancers, including breast (31), ovary (31), colon (32), bladder (33), non-small-cell lung (34), and gastric cancer (35), and is a poor prognostic factor in certain cancer types
  • KPNB1 was the second-highest-ranked gene identified in our screen
  • Increased KPNB1 protein levels have been reported in several cancers, including cervical cancer (42), hepatocellular carcinoma (43), and glioma (44), suggesting KPNB1’s oncogenic potential in these tumor types
  • our findings suggest that KPNB1 might serve as a master regulator of cell cycle by regulating several cell cycle-related proteins, including p21, p27, and APC/C family members
  • higher and/or more-frequent doses of ivermectin than currently approved for humans are well tolerated in humans
  • none of the mice in this study treated with the effective dosage of ivermectin for in vivo anticancer therapy showed severe adverse event
  • we found that the combination of ivermectin and paclitaxel produces a stronger antitumor effect on EOC cell lines than either drug alone
  •  
    Ivermectin found to be pro-apoptotic for the epithelial ovarian cancer oncogene, KPNB1 in in Vivo study.  This effective anti-parasitic drug inhibits the KPNB1 oncogene.
Nathan Goodyear

Cross-kingdom inhibition of breast cancer growth by plant miR159 - 0 views

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a major family of small RNAs, are ∼23 nt-long single strands of RNA that bind to mRNA transcripts to inhibit their translation
  • We found that plant miR159 could be detected in human sera and its levels were inversely correlated with BC incidence and progression.
  • The group demonstrates that the plant miRNA miR168 may be taken up through dietary intake to inhibit the expression of its target low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 in the liver21, providing the first evidence that miRNA in food may influence gene expression in mammalian organs.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • A more recent finding by the same group shows that a plant miRNA from honeysuckle is able to inhibit Influenza A replication22, indicating that plant miRNAs may be useful for treating human diseases.
  • A recent study by Zhang et al. reported that plant-derived miRNAs can be found in human serum.
  • We further identified TCF7 as a mammalian target for miR159 and showed the anti-proliferative function of miR159 in BC cells using in vitro and in vivo models, demonstrating for the first time that a plant miRNA is able to influence BC cell growth.
  • certain dietary miRNAs from plants and other species may serve as highly affordable and powerful means of treatment with minimal inconvenience to patients.
  • miR159 which (using a synthetic mimic) targets TCF7 to inhibit the proliferation of cells whose growth is dependent on TCF7 such as the BC cells MDA-MB-231
  • our study using a BC model clearly indicates the anti-tumor effect of orally administered synthetic miR159 in its naturally existing form with the plant-specific 2'-O-methylation, suggesting the feasibility of using synthetic forms of plant miRNAs as dietary supplements in the treatment of human cancers, including those outside of the GI track
  •  
    Plant microRNA found to exist in human serum from gut absorption to then alter genetic expression in in-vitro and in vivo studies.
Nathan Goodyear

PLOS ONE: Probiotic Microbes Sustain Youthful Serum Testosterone Levels and Testicular ... - 0 views

  • Studies in both humans and rodents, however, suggest that low testosterone is due to age-related lesions in testes rather than irregular luteinizing hormone metabolism
  • Various dietary factors and diet-induced obesity have been shown to increase the risk for late onset male hypogonadism and low testosterone production in both humans and mice
  • Testosterone deficiency and metabolic diseases such as obesity appear to inter-digitate in complex cause-and-effect relationships
  • ...28 more annotations...
  • dietary supplementation of aged mice with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri makes them appear to be younger than their matched untreated sibling mice
  • These results indicate that gut microbiota induce modulation of local gastrointestinal immunity resulting in systemic effects on the immune system which activate metabolic pathways that restore tissue homeostasis and overall health
  • all these studies we consistently observed that young and aged mice consuming purified L. reuteri organisms had particularly large testes and a dominant male behavior.
  • The testes of probiotic-fed aged mice were rescued from both seminiferous tubule atrophy and interstitial Leydig cell area reduction typical of the normal aging process. Preservation of testicular architecture despite advanced age or high-fat diet coincided with remarkably high levels of circulating testosterone. The beneficial effects of probiotic consumption were recapitulated by the depletion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-17.
  • feeding of L. reuteri consistently increased the gonadal weights, consumption of a non-pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 organisms did not affect testicular weight
  • mice with dietary L. reuteri supplements were rescued from diet-induced obesity and had normal body weight and lean physique
  • Despite the comparable numbers of ST profiles, we determined that testes from L. reuteri-treated mice had increased ST cross-sectioned profiles
  • the probiotic organism induced prominent Leydig cell accumulations in the interstitial tissue between the ST's
  • The probiotic-associated increase of interstitial Leydig cell areas was sustained with advancing age at 7 (CD vs CD+LR, P = 0.0025; CD+E.coli vs CD+LR, P = 0.0251) and 12 months
  • mice eating L. reuteri had profoundly increased levels of circulating testosterone regardless of the type of diet they consumed
  • blocking pro-inflammatory Il-17 signaling entirely recapitulates the beneficial effects of probiotics
  • previous studies we found that dietary probiotics counteract obesity [19] and age-related integumentary pathology [18] at least in part by down-regulating systemic pro-inflammatory IL-17A-dependent signaling
  • Testes histomorphometry and serum androgen concentration data were both suggestive of a probiotic-associated up-regulation of spermatogenesis in mice
  • Lactobacillus reuteri we discovered that aging male animals had larger testes compared to their age-matched controls
  • xamined testes of probiotic microbe-fed mice and found that they had less testicular atrophy coinciding with higher levels of circulating testosterone compared to their age-matched controls
  • Similar testicular health benefits were produced using systemic depletion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-17 alone, implicating a chronic inflammatory pathway in hypogonadism
  • One specific aspect of this paradigm is reciprocal activities of pro-inflammatory Th-17 and anti-inflammatory Treg cells
  • Feeding of L. reuteri organisms was previously shown to up-regulate IL-10 levels and reduce levels of IL-17 [19] serving to lower systemic inflammation
  • insufficient levels of IL-10 may increase the risk for autoimmunity, obesity, and other inflammatory disease syndromes
  • Westernized diets are also low in vitamin D, a nutrient that when present normally works together with IL-10 to protect against inflammatory disorders
  • Physiological feedback loops apparently exist between microbes, host hormones, and immunity
  • The hormone testosterone has been shown to act directly through androgen receptors on CD4+ cells to increase IL-10 expression
  • studies in both humans and rodents suggest that hypogonadism is due to age-related lesions in testes rather than irregular LH metabolism
  • We postulate that probiotic gut microbes function symbiotically with their mammalian hosts to impart immune homeostasis to maintain systemic and testicular health [34]–[35] despite suboptimal dietary conditions.
  • Dietary factors and diet-induced obesity were previously shown to increase risk for age-associated male hypogonadism, reduced spermatogenesis, and low testosterone production in both humans and mice [2]–[4], [8]–[11], [14]–[17], phenotypic features that in this study were inhibited by oral probiotic therapy absent milk sugars, extra protein, or vitamin D supplied in yogurt.
  • Similar beneficial effects of probiotic microbes on testosterone levels and sperm indices were reported in male mice that had been simultaneously supplemented with selenium
  • L. reuteri-associated prevention of age- and diet-related testicular atrophy correlates with increased numbers and size of Leydig cells
  • the initial changes of testicular atrophy begin to occur in mice from the age of 6 moths onwards [7] and indicates that the trophic effect of L. reuteri on Leydig cells is a key event which precedes and prevents age-related changes in the testes of mice. This effect is reminiscent of earlier studies describing Leydig cell hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in the mouse and the rat testis that were achievable by the administration of gonadotropins, including human chorionic gonadotropin, FSH and LH
  •  
    Fascinating study on how the addition of Lactobacillus reuteri increased Testicular size, prevented testicular atrophy, increased serum Testosterone production and protected against diet-induced/obesity-induced hypogonadism.  This was a mouse model
Nathan Goodyear

Human chorionic gonadotropin is of no value in the management of obesity. - 0 views

  • Human chorionic gonadotropin is of no value in the management of obesity
  •  
    Human chorionic gonadotropin is of no value in the management of obesity
Nathan Goodyear

Cancer cells metabolically "fertilize" the tumor microenvironment with hydrogen peroxid... - 0 views

  • reducing oxidative stress with powerful antioxidants, is an important strategy for cancer prevention, as it would suppress one of the key early initiating steps where DNA damage and tumor-stroma metabolic-coupling begins. This would prevent cancer cells from acting as metabolic “parasites
  • Oxidative stress in cancer-associated fibroblasts triggers autophagy and mitophagy, resulting in compartmentalized cellular catabolism, loss of mitochondrial function, and the onset of aerobic glycolysis, in the tumor stroma. As such, cancer-associated fibroblasts produce high-energy nutrients (such as lactate and ketones) that fuel mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism in cancer cells. We have termed this new energy-transfer mechanism the “reverse Warburg effect.
  • Then, oxidative stress, in cancer-associated fibroblasts, triggers the activation of two main transcription factors, NFκB and HIF-1α, leading to the onset of inflammation, autophagy, mitophagy and aerobic glycolysis in the tumor microenvironment
  • ...38 more annotations...
  • oxidative stress and ROS, produced in cancer-associated fibroblasts, has a “bystander effect” on adjacent cancer cells, leading to DNA damage, genomic instability and aneuploidy, which appears to be driving tumor-stroma co-evolution
  • tumor cells produce and secrete hydrogen peroxide, thereby “fertilizing” the tumor microenvironment and driving the “reverse Warburg effect.”
  • This type of stromal metabolism then produces high-energy nutrients (lactate, ketones and glutamine), as well as recycled chemical building blocks (nucleotides, amino acids, fatty acids), to literally “feed” cancer cells
  • loss of stromal caveolin (Cav-1) is sufficient to drive mitochondrial dysfunction with increased glucose uptake in fibroblasts, mimicking the glycolytic phenotype of cancer-associated fibroblasts.
  • oxidative stress initiated in tumor cells is transferred to cancer-associated fibroblasts.
  • Then, cancer-associated fibroblasts show quantitative reductions in mitochondrial activity and compensatory increases in glucose uptake, as well as high ROS production
  • These findings may explain the prognostic value of a loss of stromal Cav-1 as a marker of a “lethal” tumor microenvironment
  • aerobic glycolysis takes place in cancer-associated fibroblasts, rather than in tumor cells, as previously suspected.
  • our results may also explain the “field effect” in cancer biology,5 as hydrogen peroxide secreted by cancer cells, and the propagation of ROS production, from cancer cells to fibroblasts, would create an increasing “mutagenic field” of ROS production, due to the resulting DNA damage
  • Interruption of this process, by addition of catalase (an enzyme that detoxifies hydrogen peroxide) to the tissue culture media, blocks ROS activity in cancer cells and leads to apoptotic cell death in cancer cells
  • In this new paradigm, cancer cells induce oxidative stress in neighboring cancer-associated fibroblasts
  • cancer-associated fibroblasts have the largest increases in glucose uptake
  • cancer cells secrete hydrogen peroxide, which induces ROS production in cancer-associated fibroblasts
  • Then, oxidative stress in cancer-associated fibroblast leads to decreases in functional mitochondrial activity, and a corresponding increase in glucose uptake, to fuel aerobic glycolysis
  • cancer cells show significant increases in mitochondrial activity, and decreases in glucose uptake
  • fibroblasts and cancer cells in co-culture become metabolically coupled, resulting in the development of a “symbiotic” or “parasitic” relationship.
  • cancer-associated fibroblasts undergo aerobic glycolysis (producing lactate), while cancer cells use oxidative mitochondrial metabolism.
  • We have previously shown that oxidative stress in cancer-associated fibroblasts drives a loss of stromal Cav-1, due to its destruction via autophagy/lysosomal degradation
  • a loss of stromal Cav-1 is sufficient to induce further oxidative stress, DNA damage and autophagy, essentially mimicking pseudo-hypoxia and driving mitochondrial dysfunction
  • loss of stromal Cav-1 is a powerful biomarker for identifying breast cancer patients with early tumor recurrence, lymph-node metastasis, drug-resistance and poor clinical outcome
  • this type of metabolism (aerobic glycolysis and autophagy in the tumor stroma) is characteristic of a lethal tumor micro-environment, as it fuels anabolic growth in cancer cells, via the production of high-energy nutrients (such as lactate, ketones and glutamine) and other chemical building blocks
  • the upstream tumor-initiating event appears to be the secretion of hydrogen peroxide
  • one such enzymatically-active protein anti-oxidant that may be of therapeutic use is catalase, as it detoxifies hydrogen peroxide to water
  • numerous studies show that “catalase therapy” in pre-clinical animal models is indeed sufficient to almost completely block tumor recurrence and metastasis
  • by eliminating oxidative stress in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment,55 we may be able to effectively cut off the tumor's fuel supply, by blocking stromal autophagy and aerobic glycolysis
  • breast cancer patients show systemic evidence of increased oxidative stress and a decreased anti-oxidant defense, which increases with aging and tumor progression.68–70 Chemotherapy and radiation therapy then promote further oxidative stress.69 Unfortunately, “sub-lethal” doses of oxidative stress during cancer therapy may contribute to tumor recurrence and metastasis, via the activation of myofibroblasts.
  • a loss of stromal Cav-1 is associated with the increased expression of gene profiles associated with normal aging, oxidative stress, DNA damage, HIF1/hypoxia, NFκB/inflammation, glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction
  • cancer-associated fibroblasts show the largest increases in glucose uptake, while cancer cells show corresponding decreases in glucose uptake, under identical co-culture conditions
  • Thus, increased PET glucose avidity may actually be a surrogate marker for a loss of stromal Cav-1 in human tumors, allowing the rapid detection of a lethal tumor microenvironment.
  • it appears that astrocytes are actually the cell type responsible for the glucose avidity.
  • In the brain, astrocytes are glycolytic and undergo aerobic glycolysis. Thus, astrocytes take up and metabolically process glucose to lactate.7
  • Then, lactate is secreted via a mono-carboxylate transporter, namely MCT4. As a consequence, neurons use lactate as their preferred energy substrate
  • both astrocytes and cancer-associated fibroblasts express MCT4 (which extrudes lactate) and MCT4 is upregulated by oxidative stress in stromal fibroblasts.34
  • In accordance with the idea that cancer-associated fibroblasts take up the bulk of glucose, PET glucose avidity is also now routinely used to measure the extent of fibrosis in a number of human diseases, including interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, postsurgical scars, keloids, arthritis and a variety of collagen-vascular diseases.
  • PET glucose avidity and elevated serum inflammatory markers both correlate with poor prognosis in breast cancers.
  • PET signal over-estimates the actual anatomical size of the tumor, consistent with the idea that PET glucose avidity is really measuring fibrosis and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment.
  • human breast and lung cancer patients can be positively identified by examining their exhaled breath for the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
  • tumor cell production of hydrogen peroxide drives NFκB-activation in adjacent normal cells in culture6 and during metastasis,103 directly implicating the use of antioxidants, NFκB-inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents, in the treatment of aggressive human cancers.
  •  
    Good description of the communication between cancer cells and fibroblasts.  This theory is termed the "reverse Warburg effect".
Nathan Goodyear

Stuck at the bench: Potential natural neuroprotective compounds for concussion - 0 views

  • Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are highly enriched in neuronal synaptosomal plasma membranes and vesicles
  • The predominant CNS polyunsaturated fatty acid is DHA
  • effective supplementation and/or increased ingestion of dietary sources rich in EPA and DHA, such as cold-water fish species and fish oil, may help improve a multitude of neuronal functions, including long-term potentiation and cognition.
  • ...45 more annotations...
  • multiple preclinical studies have suggested that DHA and/or EPA supplementation may have potential benefit through a multitude of diverse, but complementary mechanisms
  • pre-injury dietary supplementation with fish oil effectively reduces post-traumatic elevations in protein oxidation
  • The benefits of pre-traumatic DHA supplementation have not only been independently confirmed,[150] but DHA supplementation has been shown to significantly reduce the number of swollen, disconnected and injured axons when administered following traumatic brain injury.
  • DHA has provided neuroprotection in experimental models of both focal and diffuse traumatic brain injury
  • potential mechanisms of neuroprotection, in addition to DHA and EPA's well-established anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
  • Despite abundant laboratory evidence supporting its neuroprotective effects in experimental models, the role of dietary DHA and/or EPA supplementation in human neurological diseases remains uncertain
  • Several population-based, observational studies have suggested that increased dietary fish and/or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption may reduce risk for ischemic stroke in several populations
  • Randomized control trials have also demonstrated significant reductions in ischemic stroke recurrence,[217] relative risk for ischemic stroke,[2] and reduced incidence of both symptomatic vasospasm and mortality following subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease have also been largely ineffective
  • The clinical evidence thus far appears equivocal
  • curcumin has gained much attention from Western researchers for its potential therapeutic benefits in large part due to its potent anti-oxidant[128,194,236] and anti-inflammatory properties
  • Curcumin is highly lipophilic and crosses the blood-brain barrier enabling it to exert a multitude of different established neuroprotective effects
  • in the context of TBI, a series of preclinical studies have suggested that pre-traumatic and post-traumatic curcumin supplementation may bolster the brain's resilience to injury and serve as a valuable therapeutic option
  • Curcumin may confer significant neuroprotection because of its ability to act on multiple deleterious post-traumatic, molecular cascades
  • studies demonstrated that both pre- and post-traumatic curcumin administration resulted in a significant reduction of neuroinflammation via inhibition of the pro-inflammatory molecules interleukin 1β and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)
  • no human studies have been conducted with respect to the effects of curcumin administration on the treatment of TBI, subarachnoid or intracranial hemorrhage, epilepsy or stroke
  • studies have demonstrated that resveratrol treatment reduces brain edema and lesion volume, as well as improves neurobehavioral functional performance following TBI
  • green tea consumption or supplementation with its derivatives may bolster cognitive function acutely and may slow cognitive decline
  • At least one population based study, though, did demonstrate that increased green tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk for Parkinson's disease independent of total caffeine intake
  • a randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that administration of green tea extract and L-theanine, over 16 weeks of treatment, improved indices of memory and brain theta wave activity on electroencephalography, suggesting greater cognitive alertness
  • Other animal studies have also demonstrated that theanine, another important component of green tea extract, exerts a multitude of neuroprotective benefits in experimental models of ischemic stroke,[63,97] Alzheimer's disease,[109] and Parkinson's disease
  • Theanine, like EGCG, contains multiple mechanisms of neuroprotective action including protection from excitotoxic injury[97] and inhibition of inflammation
  • potent anti-oxidant EGCG which is capable of crossing the blood-nerve and blood-brain barrier,
  • Epigallocatechin-3-gallate also displays neuroprotective properties
  • More recent research has suggested that vitamin D supplementation and the prevention of vitamin D deficiency may serve valuable roles in the treatment of TBI and may represents an important and necessary neuroprotective adjuvant for post-TBI progesterone therapy
  • Progesterone is one of the few agents to demonstrate significant reductions in mortality following TBI in human patients in preliminary trials
  • in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that vitamin D supplementation with progesterone administration may significantly enhance neuroprotection
  • Vitamin D deficiency may increase inflammatory damage and behavioral impairment following experimental injury and attenuate the protective effects of post-traumatic progesterone treatment.[37]
  • emerging evidence has suggested that daily intravenous administration of vitamin E following TBI significantly decreases mortality and improves patient outcomes
  • high dose vitamin C administration following injury stabilized or reduced peri-lesional edema and infarction in the majority of patients receiving post-injury treatment
  • it has been speculated that combined vitamin C and E therapy may potentiate CNS anti-oxidation and act synergistically with regards to neuroprotection
  • one prospective human study has found that combined intake of vitamin C and E displays significant treatment interaction and reduces the risk of stroke
  • Pycnogenol has demonstrated the ability to slow or reduce the pathological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease
  • Pcynogenol administration, in a clinical study of elderly patients, led to improved cognition and reductions in markers of lipid peroxidase
  • One other point of consideration is that in neurodegenerative disease states like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, where there are high levels of reactive oxygen species generation, vitamin E can tend to become oxidized itself. For maximal effectiveness and to maintain its anti-oxidant capacity, vitamin E must be given in conjunction with other anti-oxidants like vitamin C or flavonoids
  • These various factors might account for the null effects of alpha-tocopherol supplementation in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease
  • preliminary results obtained in a pediatric population have suggested that post-traumatic oral creatine administration (0.4 g/kg) given within four hours of traumatic brain injury and then daily thereafter, may improve both acute and long-term outcomes
  • Acutely, post-traumatic creatine administration seemed to reduce duration of post-traumatic amnesia, length of time spent in the intensive care unit, and duration of intubation
  • At three and six months post-injury, subjects in the creatine treatment group demonstrated improvement on indices of self care, communication abilities, locomotion, sociability, personality or behavior and cognitive function when compared to untreated controls
  • patients in the creatine-treatment group were less likely to experience headaches, dizziness and fatigue over six months of follow-up
  • CNS creatine is derived from both its local biosynthesis from the essential amino acids methionine, glycine and arginine
  • Studies of patients with CNS creatine deficiency and/or murine models with genetic ablation of creatine kinase have consistently demonstrated significant neurological impairment in the absence of proper creatine, phosphocreatine, or creatine kinase function; thus highlighting its functional importance
  • chronic dosing may partially reverse neurological impairments in human CNS creatine deficiency syndromes
  • Several studies have suggested that creatine supplementation may also reduce oxidative DNA damage and brain glutamate levels in Huntington disease patients
  • Another study highlighted that creatine supplementation marginally improved indices of mood and reduced the need for increased dopaminergic therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease
  •  
    great review of natural therapies in the treatment of concussions
Nathan Goodyear

Intravenous Ascorbate as a Tumor Cytotoxic Chemotherapeutic Agent - 0 views

  • There is a 10 — 100-fold greater content of catalase in normal cells than in tumor cells
  • induce hydrogen peroxide generation
  • Ascorbic acid and its salts (AA) are preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro (6 — 13) and in vivo
  • ...36 more annotations...
  • related to intracellular hydrogen peroxide generation
  • only be obtained by intravenous administration of AA
  • Preferentially kills neoplastic cells
  • Is virtually non-toxic at any dosage
  • Does not suppress the immune system, unlike most chemotherapy agents
  • Increases animal and human resistance to infectious agents by enhancing lymphocyte blastogenesis, enhancing cellular immunity, strengthening the extracellular matrix, and enhancing bactericidal activity of neutrophils and modulation of complement protein
  • Strengthens the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix which is responsible for stromal resistance to malignant invasiveness
  • 1969, researchers at the NCI reported AA was highly toxic to Ehrlich ascites cells in vitro
  • In 1977, Bram et al reported preferential AA toxicity for several malignant melanoma cell lines, including four human-derived lines
  • Noto et al reported that AA plus vitamin K3 had growth inhibiting action against three human tumor cell lines at non-toxic levels
  • Metabolites of AA have also shown antitumor activity in vitro
  • The AA begins to reduce cell proliferation in the tumor cell line at the lowest concentration, 1.76 mg/dl, and is completely cytotoxic to the cells at 7.04 mg/dl
  • the normal cells grew at an enhanced rate at the low dosages (1.76 and 3.52 mg/dl)
  • preferential toxicity of AA for tumor cells. >95% toxicity to human endometrial adenocarcinoma and pancreatic tumor cells (ATCC AN3-CA and MIA PaCa-2) occurred at 20 and 30 mg/dl, respectively.
  • No toxicity or inhibition was demonstrated in the normal, human skin fibroblasts (ATCC CCD 25SK) even at the highest concentration of 50 mg/dl.
  • the use of very high-dose intravenous AA for the treatment of cancer was proposed as early as 1971
  • Cameron and Pauling have published extensive suggestive evidence for prolonged life in terminal cancer patients orally supplemented (with and without initial intravenous AA therapy) with 10 g/day of AA
  • AA, plasma levels during infusion were not monitored,
  • the long-term, oral dosage used in those experiments (10 g/day), while substantial and capable of producing immunostimulatory and extracellular matrix modulation effects, was not high enough to achieve plasma concentrations that are generally cytotoxic to tumor cells in culture
  • This low cytotoxic level of AA is exceedingly rare
  • 5 — 40 mg/dl of AA is required in vitro to kill 100% of tumor cells within 3 days. The 100% kill levels of 30 mg/dl for the endometrial carcinoma cells and 40 mg/dl for the pancreatic carcinoma cells in Figure 2 are typical
  • normal range (95% range) of 0.39-1.13 mg/dl
  • 1 h after beginning his first 8-h infusion of 115 g AA (Merit Pharmaceuticals, Los Angeles, CA), the plasma AA was 3.7 mg/dl and at 5 h was 19 mg/dl. During his fourth 8-h infusion, 8 days later, the 1 h plasma level was 158 mg/dl and 5 h was 185 mg/dl
  • plasma levels of over 100 mg/dl have been maintained in 3 patients for more than 5 h using continuous intravenous infusion
  • In rare instances of patients with widely disseminated and rapidly proliferating tumors, intravenous AA administration (10 — 45 g/day) precipitated widespread tumor hemorrhage and necrosis, resulting in death
  • Although the outcomes were disastrous in these cases, they are similar to the description of tumor-necrosis-factor-induced hemorrhage and necrosis in mice (52) and seem to demonstrate the ability of AA to kill tumor cells in vivo.
  • toxic effects of AA on one normal cell line were observed at 58.36 mg/dl and the lack of side effects in patients maintaining >100 mg/dl plasma levels
  • Although it is very rare, tumor necrosis, hemorrhage, and subsequent death should be the highest priority concern for the safety of intravenous AA for cancer patients.
  • Klenner, who reported no ill effects of dosages as high as 150 g intravenously over a 24-h period
  • Cathcart (55) who describes no ill effects with doses of up to 200 g/d in patients with various pathological conditions
  • following circumstances: renal insufficiency, chronic hemodialysis patients, unusual forms of iron overload, and oxalate stone formers
  • Screening for red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, which can give rise to hemolysis of red blood cells under oxidative stress (57), should also be performed
  • any cancer therapy should be started at a low dosage to ensure that tumor hemorrhage does not occur.
  • patient is orally supplementing between infusions
  • a scorbutic rebound effect can be avoided with oral supplementation. Because of the possibility of a rebound effect, measurement of plasma levels during the periods between infusions should be performed to ensure that no such effect takes place
  • Every effort should be made to monitor plasma AA levels when a patient discontinues intravenous AA therapy.
  •  
    Older study, 1995, but shows the long-standing evidence that IVC preferentially is cytotoxic to cancer cells.`
Nathan Goodyear

Structure of the human progesterone rec... [Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993] - PubMed - NCBI - 0 views

  •  
    analysis and description of the human progesterone receptor gene.
Nathan Goodyear

The Neurosteroid Allopregnanolone Promotes Proliferation of Rodent and Human Neural Pro... - 0 views

  •  
    allopregnanolone increases human neural stem cells. Not only does allopregnanolone reduce inflammation, it plays a role in neurogenesis and thus recovery.
Nathan Goodyear

Activity and expression of progesterone metabolizing 5α-reductase, 20α-hydrox... - 0 views

  • Exposure of human breast cell lines (MCF-7, MCF-10A, and ZR-75-1) to 5α-pregnanes results in changes associated with neoplasia, including increased proliferation and decreased attachment [1], depolymerization of F-actin [2] and decreases in adhesion plaque-associated vinculin
  • Exposure to 4-pregnenes results, in general, in opposite (anti-cancer-like) effects
  • 5αR1 has been detected in various androgen-independent organs, such as the liver and brain
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • 5αR2 has been found predominantly in androgen-dependent organs, such as epididymis and prostate
  • The 5α-pregnanes:4-pregnenes ratio was about 8-fold higher in tumorous than in nontumorous breast tissue after an 8-hour incubation with [14C]progesterone
  • Studies with breast cell lines, showing that 5α-pregnanes stimulate proliferation and decrease attachment of cells
  • both tissue and breast cell line studies suggest that an elevated level of progesterone 5α-reductase activity may be an indicator of breast tumorigenesis, regardless of presence or absence of ER and/or PR
  • 5αR1 is the main isoform expressed in human breast carcinomas [29] and that 5αR2 may not be associated with risk of breast cancer
  • the differences in 5α-pregnane production between the cells is due primarily to a difference in 5αR1 expression
  • As in the case of 5α-reductase activity, the presence or absence of ER and PR do not appear to be related to 5α-reductase expression.
  • the conversion of progesterone to the cancer promoting 5α-pregnanes is significantly higher in the human tumorigenic breast cell lines
  • lthough both 5αR1 and 5αR2 are expressed by these cells, the elevated 5α-reductase activity appears to be the result of significantly greater expression of 5αR1
  • Changes in progesterone metabolizing enzyme expression (resulting in enzyme activity changes) may be responsible for promoting breast cancer progression due to increased production of tumor-promoting 5α-pregnanes and decreased production of anti-cancer 20α – and 3α-4-pregnenes
  •  
    balance of enzyme production between 5alpha-reductase and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase and 3alpha(beta)-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase play role in carcinogenesis and proliferation in the balance of production of progesterone metabolites. The 5alpha pregnenes are pro carcinogenic  and the 4-pregnenes are anti carcinogenic.
Nathan Goodyear

Monsanto Roundup: The Impacts of Glyphosate Herbicide on Human Health. Pathways to Mode... - 0 views

  •  
    Glyphosate inhibits CYP 450 enzymes.  The author states it well: "glyphosate enhances the damaging effects fo other food borne chemical residues and environnmental toxins.  Additionally, Glyphosate disrupts gut bacterial function in the human gut. This dysbiosis is well known to cause systemic disease, such as obesity, diabetes...
Nathan Goodyear

Diet-Induced Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota and the Effects on Immunity and Dis... - 0 views

  • The gut microbiota participates in the body’s metabolism by affecting energy balance, glucose metabolism, and low-grade inflammation associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders
  • Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes represent the two largest phyla in the human and mouse microbiota and a shift in the ratio of these phyla has been associated with many disease conditions, including obesity
  • In obese humans, there is decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes compared to lean individuals
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • weight loss in obese individuals results in an increase in the abundance of Bacteroidetes
  • there is conflicting evidence on the composition of the obese microbiota phenotype with regards to Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes ratios
  • Bifidobacteria spp. from the phyla Actinobacteria, has been shown to be depleted in both obese mice and human subjects
  • While it is not yet clear which specific microbes are inducing or preventing obesity, evidence suggests that the microbiota is a factor.
  • targeted manipulation of the microbiota results in divergent metabolic outcomes depending on the composition of the diet
  • The microbiota has been linked to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes (T2D) via metabolic syndrome and indeed the microbiota of individuals with T2D is also characterized by an increased Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, as well as an increase in Bacillus and Lactobacillus spp
  • It was also observed that the ratio of Bacteriodes-Prevotella to C. coccoides-E. rectale positively correlated with glucose levels but did not correlate with body mass index [80]. This suggests that the microbiota may influence T2D in conjunction with or independently of obesity
  • In humans, high-fat Western-style diets fed to individuals over one month can induce a 71% increase in plasma levels of endotoxins, suggesting that endotoxemia may develop in individuals with GI barrier dyfunction connected to dysbiosis
  • LPS increases macrophage infiltration essential for systemic inflammation preceding insulin resistance, LPS alone does not impair glucose metabolism
  • early treatment of dysbiosis may slow down or prevent the epidemic of metabolic diseases and hence the corresponding lethal cardiovascular consequences
  • increased Firmicutes and decreased Bacteroidetes, which is the microbial profile found in lean phenotypes, along with an increase in Bifidobacteria spp. and Lactobacillus spp
  • mouse and rat models of T1D have been shown to have microbiota marked by decreased diversity and decreased Lactobacillus spp., as well as a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio
  • microbial antigens through the innate immune system are involved in T1D progression
  • The microbiota appears to be essential in maintaining the Th17/Treg cell balance in intestinal tissues, mesenteric and pancreatic lymph nodes, and in developing insulitis, although progression to overt diabetes has not been shown to be controlled by the microbiota
  • There is evidence that dietary and microbial antigens independently influence T1D
  • Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 protects BB-rats from T1D by mediating intestinal barrier function and inflammation [101,102] and a combination probiotic VSL#3 has been shown to attenuate insulitis and diabetes in NOD mice
  • breast fed infants have higher levels of Bifidobacteria spp. while formula fed infants have higher levels of Bacteroides spp., as well as increased Clostridium coccoides and Lactobacillus spp
  • the composition of the gut microbiota strongly correlates with diet
  • In mice fed a diet high in fat, there are many key gut population changes, such as the absence of gut barrier-protecting Bifidobacteria spp
  • diet has a dominating role in shaping gut microbiota and changing key populations may transform healthy gut microbiota into a disease-inducing entity
  • “Western” diet, which is high in sugar and fat, causes dysbiosis which affects both host GI tract metabolism and immune homeostasis
  •  
    Nice discussion of how diet, induces gut bacterial change, that leads to metabolic endotoxemia and disease.
Nathan Goodyear

Fructose decreases physical activity and increases body fat without affecting hippocamp... - 0 views

  • the fructose animals gained significantly more weight than the glucose animals
  • The average liver mass of mice in the fructose treatment group was 20% heavier than for mice in the glucose group
  • The fat pads of mice consuming the fructose diet were 69% heavier than the fat pads of animals consuming the glucose diet
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • there are many studies showing that consumption of fructose in comparison to other monosaccharides results in increased de novo lipogenesis, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, BW6, 7 and, most recently, impaired cognitive function
  • in the present study, the intake of fructose by mice was more similar to that of typical human consumption in comparison to previous studies
  • prolonged consumption of diets containing fructose (11 weeks) increased BW and body fat deposition
  • studies in humans confirm that fructose, but not glucose (when provided as 25% of energy requirements), in the context of an energy-balanced diet increases de novo lipogenesis and visceral adiposity along with dyslipidemia, decreases insulin sensitivity10, 12 and decreases in fat oxidation
  • we hypothesize that fructose may reduce voluntary energy expenditure in terms of physical activity.
  • significant reduction (~20%) in physical activity in the fructose-fed animals in comparison to glucose
  • a recent study reported that ingestion of fructose (25% energy intake, 10 weeks) in human volunteers also resulted in reduced energy expenditure in relation to a diet with the same glucose dose
  • There is certainly evidence to suggest that, for example, exercise is able to prevent dyslipidemia in healthy subjects fed a weight-maintenance high-fructose diet (30%)54, which strongly suggests a protective role of physical activity in metabolic regulation.
  • the potential negative effects of fructose in brain and cognitive function have been investigated, with a series of studies showing cognitive deficits in spatial memory and learning in adolescent and adult animals following access to a high fructose diet
  • access to both fructose and sucrose, but not glucose, results in a 40% reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis
  • Collectively these studies seem to suggest that fructose consumption can have a considerable impact on hippocampal function and learning, which is in direct contrast with what we observed.
  • the impact of fructose is apparent only in BW, liver mass and body fat, but not in cognitive measures or rates of neurogenesis
  •  
    animal study finds that fructose increased liver mass, abdominal fat and decreased physical activity when compared to glucose.  The study groups were iso caloric, but one group was fed 18% fructose and the other 18% glucose.
1 - 20 of 718 Next › Last »
Showing 20 items per page