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SIGNIFICANCE: Mitochondria play a critical role in the physiology of the heart by controlling cardiac metabolism, function, and remodeling. Accumulation of fragmented and damaged mitochondria is a hallmark of cardiac diseases. RECENT ADVANCES: Disruption of quality control systems that maintain mitochondrial number, size, and shape through fission/fusion balance and mitophagy results in dysfunctional mitochondria, defective mitochondrial segregation, impaired cardiac bioenergetics, and excessive oxidative stress. CRITICAL ISSUES: Pharmacological tools that improve the cardiac pool of healthy mitochondria through inhibition of excessive mitochondrial fission, boosting mitochondrial fusion, or increasing the clearance of damaged mitochondria have emerged as promising approaches to improve the prognosis of heart diseases. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: There is a reasonable amount of preclinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of molecules targeting mitochondrial fission and fusion to treat cardiac diseases. The current and future challenges are turning these lead molecules into treatments. Clinical studies focusing on acute (i.e., myocardial infarction) and chronic (i.e., heart failure) cardiac diseases are needed to validate the effectiveness of such strategies in improving mitochondrial morphology, metabolism, and cardiac function. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 844–863.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent and disabling disorder, mainly characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, but also by olfactory and memory impairments that frequently persist throughout lifetime. The pathophysiology of ADHD is complex, involving several brain regions and neural pathways including alterations in adenosine neuromodulation. The administration of caffeine (a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist) and physical exercise have been independently pointed as effective approaches for the management of ADHD symptoms. Here, we evaluated the effects of caffeine consumption (0.3 mg/mL in drinking water) plus physical exercise in running wheels during 6 weeks-starting during either adolescence (30 days old) or adulthood (4-5 months old)-on behavioral performance (including olfactory discrimination, open field, object recognition, and water maze tests) on the brain levels of monoamines (by high-performance liquid chromatography), on proteins related to synaptic plasticity and on brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling (by Western blot analysis) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), a validated animal model of ADHD. SHRs displayed persistent impairments of olfactory and short-term recognition memory from adolescence to adulthood, which were accompanied by lower levels of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The association of caffeine plus physical exercise during adolescence or adulthood restored the olfactory discrimination ability and, in an independent manner, improved short-term recognition memory of SHRs. These benefits were not associated to alterations in locomotor activity or in the hypertensive phenotype. The association of caffeine consumption plus physical exercise during adolescence increased the levels of SNAP-25, syntaxin, and serotonin in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and striatal dopamine levels in SHRs. These results provide new evidence of the potential of caffeine and physical exercise, starting at adolescence or adult life, to improve behavioral impairments and stimulate neuroplasticity in ADHD.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify a blood-flow-restriction (BFR) endurance exercise protocol that maximizes metabolic strain and minimizes muscle fatigue. Methods: Twelve healthy participants accomplished 5 different interval cycling endurance exercises (2-min work, 1-min rest) in a randomized order: (1) control, low intensity with unrestricted blood flow (CON30); (2) low intensity with intermittent BFR (i-BFR30, ∼150 mm Hg); (3) low intensity with continuous BFR (c-BFR, ∼100 mm Hg); (4) unloaded cycling with i-BFR0 (∼150 mm Hg); and (5) high intensity (HI) with unrestricted blood flow. Force production, creatine kinase activity, antioxidant markers, blood pH, and potassium (K+) were measured in a range of 5 minutes before and after each cycling exercise protocol. Results: HI showed the highest reduction (Δ = −0.26 [0.05], d = 5.6) on blood pH. Delta pH for c-BRF30 (Δ = −0.02 [0.03], d = 0.8) and Δ pH for i-BRF30 (Δ = −0.04 [0.03], d = 1.6) were different from each other, and both were higher compared with CON30 (Δ = 0.03 [0.03]). There was significant before-to-after force loss following HI (Δ = 55 [40] N·m−1, d = 1.5) and c-BFR30 (Δ = 27 [21] N·m−1, d = 0.7) protocols only, which were accompanied by significant increases in K+ (HI: Δ = 0.94 [0.65] mmol·L−1, d = 1.8; c-BFR30: Δ = 0.72 [0.85] mmol·L−1, d = 1.2). Moreover, all BFR conditions elicited slight increases in plasma creatine kinase, but not for HI and CON30. Glutathione changes from before to after were significant for all BFR conditions and HI, but not for CON30. Conclusions: The attenuation in fatigue-induced reductions in maximal force suggests that i-BFR exercise could be preferable to c-BFR in improving exercise capacity, with considerably less biologic stress elicited from HI exercises.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of sepiapterin reductase (SPR) inhibition in a mouse model of inflammatory joint disease, and to determine whether urinary sepiapterin levels, as measured in mice and healthy human volunteers, could be useful as a noninvasive, translational biomarker of SPR inhibition/target engagement. METHODS The collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) model was used to induce joint inflammation in mice. The effects of pharmacologic inhibition of SPR on thresholds of heat-, cold-, and mechanical-evoked pain sensitivity and on signs of inflammation were tested in mice with CAIA. In addition, mice and healthy human volunteers were treated with SPR inhibitors, and changes in urinary sepiapterin levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS CAIA in mice was characterized by 2 phases: in the acute inflammation (early) phase, joint inflammation and heat-, mechanical-, and cold-induced pain hypersensitivity were present, while in the postinflammation (late) phase, no joint inflammation was observed but heat- and mechanical-induced hypersensitivity, but not cold hypersensitivity, were present. Inhibition of SPR in mice with CAIA significantly attenuated the heat-induced hyperalgesia in both phases, and the mechanical allodynia in the late phase. Signs of inflammation were unaffected by SPR inhibition. Urinary tetrahydrobiopterin levels, as a marker of inflammatory pain, were increased during inflammation in mice with CAIA (2-fold increase over controls; P < 0.05) and significantly reduced by SPR inhibition (P < 0.05 versus vehicle-treated mice). Increased urinary sepiapterin levels in the presence of SPR inhibition in both mice and healthy human volunteers were associated with high sensitivity (70-85%) and high specificity (82-88%) for the prediction of SPR inhibition/target engagement. CONCLUSION SPR inhibition reduces the pain associated with joint inflammation, thus showing its potential utility as an analgesic strategy for inflammatory joint pain. In addition, SPR inhibition increases urinary sepiapterin levels, indicating the potential of this measurement as a noninvasive biomarker of target engagement of SPR inhibitors, such as sulfasalazine, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug that is currently used as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Fatigue is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease that compromises significantly the patients’ quality of life. Despite that, fatigue has been under-recognized as symptom, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood, and there is no adequate treatment so far. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, eliciting the classical motor symptoms including slowing of movements, muscular rigidity and resting tremor. The dopamine synthesis is mediated by the rate-limiting enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which requires tetrahydrobiopterin as a mandatory cofactor. Here, we showed that reserpine administration (1 mg/kg, two intraperitoneal injections with an interval of 48 h) in adult Swiss male mice (8–10 weeks; 35–45 g) provoked striatal depletion of dopamine and tetrahydrobiopterin, and intolerance to exercise. The poor exercise performance of reserpinized mice was not influenced by emotional or anhedonic factors, mechanical nociceptive thresholds, electrocardiogram pattern alterations or muscle-impaired bioenergetics. The administration of levodopa (100 mg/kg; i.p.) plus benserazide (50 mg/kg; i.p.) rescued reserpine-induced fatigability-like symptoms and restored striatal dopamine and tetrahydrobiopterin levels. Remarkably, it was observed, for the first time, that impaired blood dopamine metabolism inversely and idependently correlated with fatigue scores in eighteen idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients (male n = 13; female n = 5; age 61.3 ± 9.59 years). Altogether, this study provides new experimental and clinical evidence that fatigue symptoms might be caused by the impaired striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission, pointing to a central origin of fatigue in Parkinson’s disease., Scheffer et al. report that the administration of levodopa restored striatal dopamine and tetrahydrobiopterin levels and rescued fatigability-like symptoms in reserpinized mice. The association of impaired dopaminergic system and fatigue symptoms was revealed by the inverse correlation of plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels with fatigue scores in patients affected by Parkinson’s disease., Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

A wide array of molecular pathways has been investigated during the past decade in order to understand the mechanisms by which the practice of physical exercise promotes neuroprotection and reduces the risk of developing communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases. While a single session of physical exercise may represent a challenge for cell homeostasis, repeated physical exercise sessions will improve immunosurveillance and immunocompetence. Additionally, immune cells from the central nervous system will acquire an anti-inflammatory phenotype, protecting central functions from age-induced cognitive decline. This review highlights the exercise-induced anti-inflammatory effect on the prevention or treatment of common chronic clinical and experimental settings. It also suggests the use of pterins in biological fluids as sensitive biomarkers to follow the anti-inflammatory effect of physical exercise.

Our objective was to investigate whether the pulp and paper mill industry effluent could affect the testis and Sertoli cells in a fast exposure period. For this, the present study was carried out in immature rats at 10-day-old. Testis treated in vitro with 4% effluent for 1 h presented changes in energy metabolism in terms of a decrease in lactate content and glucose uptake. Elevation in GSH content, as an antioxidant defense mechanism, was also detected. Sertoli cells treated with 4% effluent for 1 hour showed alterations in the mitochondrial metabolism that favor the decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and the generation of oxygen reactive species and also a time and concentration-dependent delay secretion of acidic vesicles. Our results showed that pollutants present in the pulp and paper mill effluents, in a short time of exposure, are capable of inducing alterations in important metabolic functions in the testis and in Sertoli cells that are crucial for the correct progression of spermatogenesis and fertility.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is primarily characterized by neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in motor impairment. Loss-of-function mutations in parkin are the major cause of the early onset familial form of the disease. Although rodents deficient in parkin (parkin(-/-) ) have some dopaminergic system dysfunction associated with central oxidative stress and energy metabolism deficiencies, these animals only display nigrostriatal pathway degeneration under inflammatory conditions. This study investigated the impact of the inflammatory stimulus induced by lypopolisaccharide (LPS) on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) synthesizing enzymes (de novo and salvage pathways), since this cofactor is essential for dopamine synthesis. The mitochondrial content and architecture was investigated in the striatum of LPS-exposed parkin(-/-) mice. As expected, the LPS (0.33 mg/kg; i.p.) challenge compromised spontaneous locomotion and social interaction with juvenile parkin(-/-) and WT mice. Moreover, the genotype impacted the kinetics of the investigation of the juvenile. The inflammatory scenario did not induce apparent changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure; however, it increased the quantity of mitochondria, which were of smaller size, and provoked the perinuclear distribution of the organelle. Furthermore, the BH4 de novo biosynthetic pathway failed to be up-regulated in the LPS challenge, a well-known stimulus for its activation. The LPS treatment increased sepiapterin reductase (SPR) expression, suggesting compensation by the salvage pathway. This might indicate that dopamine synthesis is compromised in parkin(-/-) mice under inflammatory conditions. Finally, this scenario impaired the striatal expression of the transcription factor BDNF, possibly favoring cell death.

This study aimed to compare the effects of three different resistance exercise models on the quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area, as well as on mTOR phosphorylation and other pivotal molecules involved in the upstream regulation of mTOR. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into untrained (control), endurance resistance training, strength resistance training, and hypertrophy resistance training (HRT) groups (n=6). After 12 weeks of training, the red portion of the quadriceps was removed for histological and Western blot analyses. The results showed that the quadriceps weight and cross-sectional areas in the exercised groups were higher than those of the untrained rats. However, the HRT group presented better results than the other two experimental groups. This same pattern was observed for mTOR phosphorylation and for the most pivotal molecules involved in the upstream control of mTOR (increase of PKB, 14-3-3, ERK, p38 MAPK, and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, and reduction of tuberin, sestrin 2, REDD1, and phospho AMPK). In summary, our study showed that HRT leads to high levels of mTOR phosphorylation as well as of other proteins involved in the upstream regulation of mTOR.

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-D3) is critical for the maintenance of normal male reproduction since reduced fertility is observed in vitamin D-deficient rats. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a membrane-bound enzyme that is localized on Sertoli cells and catalyses the transfer of the gamma-glutamyl residues to an amino acid or peptide acceptor. Sertoli cells are also responsible for providing nutrients, as lactate, to the development of germ cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and the mechanism of action of 1,25-D3 on GGT on Sertoli cell functions from 30-day-old immature rat testis. Results demonstrated that 1,25-D3 stimulates GGT activity at Sertoli cells plasma membrane through a PKA-dependent mechanism of action, which was not dependent of active de novo protein synthesis. The hormone increases glucose uptake, as well as lactate production and release by Sertoli cells without altering the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition, 1,25-D3 did not change reduced glutathione (GSH) amount or oxygen consumption, and diminished Sertoli cell death. These findings demonstrate that 1,25-D3 stimulatory effect on GGT activity, glucose uptake, LDH activity and lactate production seem to be an important contribution of Sertoli cells for germ cells nutrition and for a full and active ongoing spermatogenesis.

Stroke is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in brain tissue preparations can reproduce several pathological features induced by stroke providing a valuable ex vivo protocol for studying the mechanism of action of neuroprotective agents. Guanosine, an endogenous guanine nucleoside, promotes neuroprotection in vivo and in vitro models of neurotoxicity. We previously showed that guanosine protective effect was mimicked by inhibition of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) activity. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the mechanisms related to the protective role of guanosine in rat hippocampal slices subjected to OGD followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R). Guanosine (100 μM) and the pan-NOS inhibitor, l-NAME (1 mM) afforded protection to hippocampal slices subjected to OGD/R. The presence of NO donors, DETA-NO (800 μM) or SNP (5 μM) increased reactive species production, and abolished the protective effect of guanosine or l-NAME against OGD/R. Guanosine or l-NAME treatment prevented the impaired ATP production, lactate release, and glutamate uptake following OGD/R. The presence of a NO donor also abolished the beneficial effects of guanosine or l-NAME on bioenergetics and glutamate uptake. These results showed, for the first time, that guanosine may regulate cellular bioenergetics in hippocampal slices subjected to OGD/R injury by a mechanism that involves the modulation of NO levels.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of early and long-term low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers after acute-traumatic muscle injury in Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into the following four groups: control group (CG), muscle injury group (IG), CG + LLLT, and IG + LLLT: laser treatment with doses of 3 and 5 J/cm(2). Muscle traumatic injury was induced by a single-impact blunt trauma in the rat gastrocnemius. Irradiation for 3 or 5 J/cm(2) was initiated 2, 12, and 24 h after muscle trauma induction, and the treatment was continued for five consecutive days. All the oxidant markers investigated. namely thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, carbonyl, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase, were increased as soon as 2 h after muscle injury and remained increased up to 24 h. These alterations were prevented by LLLT at a 3 J/cm(2) dose given 2 h after the trauma. Similarly, LLLT prevented the trauma-induced proinflammatory state characterized by IL-6 and IL-10. In parallel, trauma-induced reduction in BDNF and VEGF, vascular remodeling and fiber-proliferating markers, was prevented by laser irradiation. In order to test whether the preventive effect of LLLT was also reflected in muscle functionality, we tested the locomotor activity, by measuring distance traveled and the number of rearings in the open field test. LLLT was effective in recovering the normal locomotion, indicating that the irradiation induced biostimulatory effects that accelerated or resolved the acute inflammatory response as well as the oxidant state elicited by the muscle trauma.

Obesity and metabolic disorders are increasing worldwide and are associated with brain atrophy and dysfunction, which are risk factors for late-onset dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Epidemiological studies demonstrated that changes in lifestyle, including the frequent practice of physical exercise are able to prevent and treat not only obesity/metabolic disorders, but also to improve cognitive function and dementia. Several biochemical pathways and epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to understand the beneficial effects of physical exercise on cognition. This manuscript revised central ongoing research on epigenetic mechanisms induced by exercise and the beneficial effects on obesity-associated cognitive decline, highlighting potential mechanistic mediators.

Benefits of exercise have been documented for many diseases with a chronic progression, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, certain types of cancers, and overall mortality. Low-grade systemic inflammation is a key component of these pathologies and it has been demonstrated that can be prevented by performing regularly physical exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on glucose and insulin tolerance, exercise performance, production of urinary neopterin and striatal neurotransmitters levels in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Increased blood glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity were observed after a single administration of glucose (2 g/kg, p.o.) or insulin (0.5 U/kg, i.p.). However, the repeated injection of LPS (0.33 mg/kg/day, i.p.) decreased glucose tolerance and increase urinary neopterin levels, pointing to systemic inflammation. In parallel to the urinary-increased neopterin, it was observed a significant reduction in the striatal dopamine levels and an increase in the serotonin/dopamine ratio. While a single LPS injection (0.33 mg/kg, i.p.) showed impaired performance in the incremental loading test (10 m/min, with 2 m/min increment every 3 min, at 9% grade), a moderate physical exercise protocol (treadmill for three weeks; 5 sessions/week; up to 50 min/day) prevented the exacerbation of immune system activation and preserved mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscle from mice with continuous LPS infusion (infusion pumps: 0.83 mg/kg/day, i.p.). In conclusion, the peripheral-induced inflammation elicited metabolic alterations that provoked impairment in striatal dopamine metabolism. The moderate exercise prevented the increase of urinary neopterin and preserved mitochondrial activity under LPS-induced inflammatory conditions.

Chronic metabolic alterations may represent a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment, dementia, or neurodegenerative diseases. Hyperglycemia and obesity are known to imprint epigenetic markers that compromise the proper expression of cell survival genes. Here, we showed that chronic hyperglycemia (60 days) induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin compromised cognition by reducing hippocampal ERK signaling and by inducing neurotoxicity in rats. The mechanisms appear to be linked to reduced active DNA demethylation and diminished expression of the neuroprotective transcription factor REST. The impact of the relationship between adiposity and DNA hypermethylation on REST expression was also demonstrated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in obese children with reduced levels of blood ascorbate. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications and the cognitive impairment reported in obese children, adolescents, and adults suggest that the correction of the anthropometry and the peripheral metabolic alterations would protect brain homeostasis and reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Fil: Remor, Aline Pertile. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Da Silva, Rodrigo Augusto. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; Brasil Fil: de Matos, Filipe José. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Glaser, Viviane. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Paula Martins, Roberta de. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Ghisoni, Karina. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Luz Scheffer, Débora da. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Andia, Denise Carleto. Universidade Paulista. Faculdade de Odontologia. Área de Pesquisa em Epigenética; Brasil Fil: Portinho, Daniele. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; Brasil Fil: de Souza, Ana Paula. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; Brasil Fil: Oliveira, Paulo Alexandre de. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Prediger, Rui Daniel. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Torres, Alicia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; Argentina Fil: Linhares, Rose Marie Mueller. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão; Brasil Fil: Walz, Roger. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Ronsoni, Marcelo Fernando. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Hohl, Alexandre. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Rafacho, Alex. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Aguiar, Aderbal Silva. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: de Paul, Ana Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; Argentina Fil: Latini, Alexandra. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unidos

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is primarily characterized by neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in motor impairment. Loss-of-function mutations in parkin are the major cause of the early onset familial form of the disease. Although rodents deficient in parkin (parkin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of therapeutic pulsed ultrasound with gold nanoparticles on oxidative stress parameters after traumatic muscle injury in Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into nine groups (n = 6 each): sham (uninjured muscle); muscle injury without treatment; muscle injury and treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (15 mg/kg); muscle injury and treatment with gold nanoparticles (27 µg); muscle injury and treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide + gold nanoparticles (Plus); muscle injury and therapeutic pulsed ultrasound; muscle injury and therapeutic pulsed ultrasound + dimethyl sulfoxide; muscle injury and therapeutic pulsed ultrasound + gold nanoparticles; and muscle injury and therapeutic pulsed ultrasound + Plus. Gastrocnemius injury was induced by a single-impact blunt trauma. Therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (6-min application, frequency 1.0 MHz, intensity 0.8 W/cm(2)) was used 2, 12, 24, and 48 h after trauma. Mitochondrial superoxide generation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were evaluated. The increase in the superoxide production and TBARS and carbonyl levels observed in the control group after muscle damage were reduced in animals exposed to therapeutic pulsed ultrasound plus nanoparticles. Similarly, antioxidants enzymes showed a decreased activity with the same treatment. Our work suggest that therapeutic pulsed ultrasound + dimethyl sulfoxide + gold nanoparticles has beneficial effects on the muscle healing process by inducing a decrease in oxidative stress parameters and most likely decreasing the deleterious effects of the inflammatory response.

The purpose of the present investigation was to identify muscle damage, inflammatory response and oxidative stress blood markers in athletes undertaking the ultra-endurance MultiSport Brazil race. Eleven well-trained male athletes (34.3 ± 3.1 years, 74.0 ± 7.6 kg; 172.2 ± 5.1 cm) participated in the study and performed the race, which consisted of about 90 km of alternating off-road running, mountain biking and kayaking. Twelve hours before and up to 15 minutes after the race a 10 mL blood sample was drawn in order to measure the following parameters: lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, protein carbonylation, respiratory chain complexes I, II and IV activities, oxygen consumption and neopterin concentrations. After the race, plasma lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities were significantly increased. Erythrocyte TBA-RS levels and plasma protein carbonylation were markedly augmented in post-race samples. Additionally, mitochondrial complex II activity and oxygen consumption in post-race platelet-rich plasma were also increased. These altered biochemical parameters were accompanied by increased plasma neopterin levels. The ultra-endurance event provoked systemic inflammation (increased neopterin) accompanied by marked oxidative stress, likely by increasing oxidative metabolism (increased oxidative mitochondrial function). This might be advantageous during prolonged exercise, mainly for efficient substrate oxidation at the mitochondrial level, even when tissue damage is induced.

This study analyzes oxidative stress in skeletal muscle using different resisted training protocols. We hypothesize that different types of training produce different specifics. To test our hypothesis, we defined 3 resistance training protocols and investigated the respective biochemical responses in muscle. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were distributed in 4 groups: untrained (UT), muscular resistance training (RT), hypertrophy training (HT), and strength training (ST). After 12 weeks of training on alternate days, the red portion of the brachioradialis was removed and the following parameters were assessed: lactate and glycogen content, superoxide production, antioxidant enzyme content, and activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; GPx, glutathione peroxidase). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), carbonyl, and thiol groups were also measured. Results showed increased superoxide production (UT = 5.348 ± 0.889; RT = 5.117 ± 0,651; HT = 8.412 ± 0.431; ST = 6.354 ± 0.552), SOD (UT = 0.078 ± 0.0163; RT = 0.101 ± 0.013; HT = 0.533 ± 0.109; ST = 0.388 ± 0.058), GPx (UT = 0.290 ± 0.023; RT = 0.348 ± 0.014; HT = 0.529 ± 0.049; ST = 0.384 ± 0.038) activities, and content of GPx (HT = 3.8 times; ST = 3.0 times) compared with the UT group. CAT activity was lower (UT = 3.966 ± 0.670; RT = 3.474 ± 0.583; HT = 2.276 ± 0.302; ST = 2.028 ± 0.471) in HT and ST groups. Oxidative damage was observed in the HT group (TBARS = 0.082 ± 0.009; carbonyl = 0.73 ± 0.053; thiol = 12.78 ± 0.917) compared with the UT group. These findings indicate that HT causes an imbalance in oxidative parameters in favor of pro-oxidants, causing oxidative stress in skeletal muscle.

Introduction The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of TPU together with DMSO on oxidative stress parameters after eccentric exercise. Methods Thirty and six animals were divided in control; eccentric exercise (EE); EE + saline gel 0.9%; EE + TPU 0.8 W/cm 2 ; EE + DMSO gel; EE + TPU + DMSO gel and submitted to one 90-min downhill run (1.0 km h −1 ). TPU was used 2, 12, 24, 46 h after exercise session and 48 h after the animals were killed and the gastrocnemius muscles were surgically removed. Production of superoxide anion, creatine kinase (CK) levels, lipoperoxidation, carbonylation, and antioxidants enzymes were analyzed. Results Showed that TPU and gel-DMSO improved muscle healing. Moreover, superoxide anion production, TBARS level and protein carbonyls levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were all decreased in the group TPU plus gel-DMSO. Discussion Our results show that DMSO is effective in the reduction of the muscular lesion and in the oxidative stress after eccentric exercise only when used with TPU.

Infrequent exercise, typically involving eccentric actions, has been shown to cause oxidative stress and to damage muscle tissue. High taurine levels are present in skeletal muscle and may play a role in cellular defences against free radical-mediated damage. This study investigates the effects of taurine supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers after eccentric exercise (EE). Twenty-four male rats were divided into the following groups (n = 6): control; EE; EE plus taurine (EE + Taurine); EE plus saline (EE + Saline). Taurine was administered as a 1-ml 300 mg kg−1 per body weight (BW) day−1 solution in water by gavage, for 15 consecutive days. Starting on the 14th day of supplementation, the animals were submitted to one 90-min downhill run session and constant velocity of 1·0 km h−1. Forty-eight hours after the exercise session, the animals were killed and the quadriceps muscles were surgically removed. Production of superoxide anion, creatine kinase (CK) levels, lipoperoxidation, carbonylation, total thiol content and antioxidant enzyme were analysed. Taurine supplementation was found to decrease superoxide radical production, CK, lipoperoxidation and carbonylation levels and increased total thiol content in skeletal muscle, but it did not affect antioxidant enzyme activity after EE. The present study suggests that taurine affects skeletal muscle contraction by decreasing oxidative stress, in association with decreased superoxide radical production. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introdução: A doença de Parkinson é a segunda doençaneurodegenerativa mais prevalente na população mundial, commaior incidência nos idosos. A fadiga corresponde a um dossintomas não motores mais frequentes na doença de Parkinsone prejudica a qualidade de vida desses pacientes. Esse cenárioé potencializado por um estilo de vida sedentário, aumentandoa dificuldade de realizar atividade física. Objetivo: Identificaro impacto do sintoma de fadiga na maior predisposição aosedentarismo e na realização de atividade física em pessoascom doença de Parkinson. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se deuma revisão narrativa. Para esta revisão foram pesquisadosartigos em língua inglesa disponíveis na base de dadoseletrônica PubMED. Foram adotados os seguintes indexadorescom diferentes combinações: fatigue and Parkinson’s diseaseand exercise or physical activity. Buscas manuais foram feitasnas referências dos artigos encontrados. Resultados: Apesarda alta prevalência de fadiga, o problema nem sempre éreconhecido clinicamente, em virtude do seu caráter subjetivoe pouco explorado. A etio/fisiopatologia da fadiga na doençade Parkinson ainda é mal compreendida e a abordagem clínicaé inexistente. Conclusão: A fadiga pode ser classificada comofadiga subjetiva, que não é objetivamente mensurável, oufatigabilidade, que se caracteriza pela dificuldade em iniciarou manter uma atividade física ou mental. A fatigabilidadeé uma barreira para a realização de atividades físicas, e estádiretamente relacionada a um estilo de vida sedentário emindivíduos com DP.

Interactions of chemicals with cerebral cellular systems are often accompanied by similar changes involving components in non-neural tissues. On this basis, indirect strategies have been developed to investigate neural cell function parameters by methods using accessible cells, including platelets and/or peripheral blood lymphocytes. Therefore, here it was investigated whether peripheral blood markers may be useful for assessing the central toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg). For this purpose, we investigated platelet mitochondrial physiology in a well-established mouse model of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, and correlated this peripheral activity with behavioural and central biochemical parameters. In order to characterize the cortical toxicity induced by MeHg (20 and 40 mg/L in drinking water, 21 days), the behavioral parameter namely, short-term object recognition, and the central mitochondrial impairment assessed by measuring respiratory complexes I-IV enzyme activities were determined in MeHg-poisoned animals. Neurotoxicity induced by MeHg exposure provoked compromised cortical activity (memory impairment) and reduced NADH dehydrogenase, complex II and II-III activities in the cerebral cortex. These alterations correlated with impaired systemic platelet oxygen consumption of intoxicated mice, which was characterized by reduced electron transfer activity and uncoupled mitochondria. The data brought here demonstrated that impaired systemic platelet oxygen consumption is a sensitive and non-invasive marker of the brain energy deficits induced by MeHg poisoning. Finally, brain and platelets biochemical alterations significantly correlated with cognitive behavior in poisoned mice. Therefore, it could be proposed the use of platelet oxygen consumption as a peripheral blood marker of brain function in a mouse model MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.

To investigate the effects physical training exerts on markers of oxidative stress in rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6): sham, CKD, exercise-sham and exercise-CKD. Surgical reduction of the renal mass was performed (5/6 nephrectomized) and exercise was conducted on a treadmill (50 min/day up to 1 km/h for, 5 days/week for eight weeks). Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session, blood (1 mL) was collected from the abdominal aorta and animals were decapitated. The left kidney was surgically removed and stored at -70 °C for subsequent analysis.An increase was observed in creatinine and urea levels, superoxide production, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative damage in the CKD group, as compared to sham animals (p0.05). Physical training made superoxide production and oxidative damage decrease in the CKD group (p0.05), increasing SOD and GPX activity, though it did not increase the antioxidant effects of CAT, and renal parameters.Even without altering renal function in animals induced to CKD model, the results show that physical training is an important component in the treatment of CKD, because it exerted a positive influence on oxidative stress parameters, especially on the reduction in superoxide production and oxidative damage, as well as an improvement in the antioxidant defense system, like SOD and GPX.

It has been demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and oxidative damage markers are increased after muscle damage. Recent studies have demonstrated that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) modulates many biochemical processes mainly those related to reduction of muscular injures, increment of mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis, as well as acceleration of the healing process. The objective of the present investigation was to verify the influence of LLLT in some parameters of muscular injury, oxidative damage, antioxidant activity, and synthesis of collagen after traumatic muscular injury. Adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 6), namely, sham (uninjured muscle), muscle injury without treatment, and muscle injury with LLLT (GaAs, 904 nm). Each treated point received 5 J/cm(2) or 0.5 J of energy density (12.5 s) and 2.5 J per treatment (five regions). LLLT was administered 2, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after muscle trauma. The serum creatine kinase activity was used as an index of skeletal muscle injury. Superoxide anion, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) measurement, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were used as indicators of oxidative stress. In order to assess the synthesis of collagen, levels of hydroxyproline were measured. Our results have shown that the model of traumatic injury induces a significant increase in serum creatine kinase activity, hydroxyproline content, superoxide anion production, TBARS level, and activity of SOD compared to control. LLLT accelerated the muscular healing by significantly decreasing superoxide anion production, TBARS levels, the activity of SOD, and hydroxyproline content. The data strongly indicate that increased ROS production and augmented collagen synthesis are elicited by traumatic muscular injury, effects that were significantly decreased by LLLT.

This study investigated the acute effect of two swimming sessions on oxidative stress markers in trained individuals. Twelve male volunteers, students from UNESC (Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil), with a mean age of 28 ± 7 years, initial weight of 72.9 ± 9 kg and height of 1.75 ± 0.08 cm, participated in the study. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the sessions, immediately after the first and second session, and 24 hours after the end of the sessions. Aliquots were washed, red blood cells were lysed and plasma samples were stored at -80 oC until the time of the biochemical assays. Creatine kinase (CK) activity, lipid peroxidation level, protein carbonylation, thiol content and catalase activity were determined. The results showed a significant increase in CK, lipoperoxidation and protein carbonylation and a decrease in thiol content after the second swimming session (p

O futsal e uma modalidade esportiva que requer subita aceleracao e desaceleracao com brusca mudanca de direcao. Este esporte expoe seus praticantes a grandes impactos, causando danos musculares e oxidativos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar os niveis sericos de marcadores de danos musculares e oxidativos em atletas apos jogo de futsal. Participaram do estudo, seis atletas de futsal, com idade media (21,2 ± 0,98 anos), peso (67,1 ± 5,51 Kg) e altura (171,0 ± 17 cm). As coletas foram obtidas 30 minutos antes do jogo 1 (Pre-jogo); imediatamente apos o jogo 1 (pos-jogo 1) e imediatamente apos o segundo jogo (pos-jogo 2), que foi realizado 24 horas apos o jogo 1. O soro foi utilizado para avaliacoes sericas de creatina quinase, dano proteico e lipidico. As concentracoes de creatina quinase, peroxidacao lipidica (xilenol) e carbonilacao de proteina (carbonil) foram significativamente maiores apos o termino dos jogos 1 e 2, quando comparadas aos valores pre jogo. Os valores de sulfidrila foram menores apos o termino dos jogos 1 e 2, quando comparados aos valores pre jogo. Nenhuma diferenca foi observada quando comparados os valores apos jogo 1 e o jogo 2 em todos os parâmetros analisados. Coletivamente, os resultados demonstram que a partida de futsal provoca danos musculares e oxidativos. Surpreendentemente, nao houve incremento nos parâmetros avaliados ao final do jogo 2. Devido ao reduzido conhecimento em relacao ao tempo de recuperacao apos uma partida de futsal, acredita-se que este estudo seja de grande importância para os profissionais que trabalham com esse esporte.

Objective: Reactive oxygen species play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Physical exercise was suggested as a useful approach to diminish impaired oxidative defense mechanisms. This study sought to observe the effects of physical training before the induction of renal lesions on oxidative stress parameters in animals induced for CKD. Methods:Twenty-four male Wistar ratswere divided into four groups (n 56): sham, sham plus exercise, CKD, and CKD plus exercise. Exercise groups performed physical training on a treadmill for 8 weeks (up to 1 km/h for 50 min/ day, 5 days/week). Forty-eight hours after the final exercise session, a surgical reduction of renal mass was performed (5/6 nephrectomized). Thirty days later, blood samples were collected to determine serum creatinine and urea concentrations, and the right kidney was surgically removed and stored at 270 � C for later analysis of superoxide production, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), and oxidative damage of lipids (thiobarbituric acid reactive susbstances level) and proteins (carbonyl groups and sulfhydryl content). Results: A significant increase occurred in creatinine and urea levels, superoxide production, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative damage in the CKD group, compared with sham-treated animals (P , .05). Physical training prevented superoxide production, and decreased the oxidative damage in the CKD group (P , .05), but did not increase the effect of antioxidants. Conclusion: Physical training before induction of a renal lesion is capable of improving oxidative damage parameters and oxidant production, without altering renal function and the antioxidant defense system.

Genetic regulators and environmental stimuli modulate T cell activation in autoimmunity and cancer. The enzyme co-factor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is involved in the production of monoamine neurotransmitters, the generation of nitric oxide, and pain1,2. Here we uncover a link between these processes, identifying a fundamental role for BH4 in T cell biology. We find that genetic inactivation of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of BH4) and inhibition of sepiapterin reductase (the terminal enzyme in the synthetic pathway for BH4) severely impair the proliferation of mature mouse and human T cells. BH4 production in activated T cells is linked to alterations in iron metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics. In vivo blockade of BH4 synthesis abrogates T-cell-mediated autoimmunity and allergic inflammation, and enhancing BH4 levels through GCH1 overexpression augments responses by CD4- and CD8-expressing T cells, increasing their antitumour activity in vivo. Administration of BH4 to mice markedly reduces tumour growth and expands the population of intratumoral effector T cells. Kynurenine—a tryptophan metabolite that blocks antitumour immunity—inhibits T cell proliferation in a manner that can be rescued by BH4. Finally, we report the development of a potent SPR antagonist for possible clinical use. Our data uncover GCH1, SPR and their downstream metabolite BH4 as critical regulators of T cell biology that can be readily manipulated to either block autoimmunity or enhance anticancer immunity. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an enzyme co-factor that is involved in the nervous system; it is shown here to also function in T cell activation and proliferation, with roles in autoimmunity, allergic inflammation and cancer.