Kyung Jin Jung

Age-associated increases in oxidative stress and nuclear transcription factor κB activation are attenuated in rat liver by regular exercise

The combined effects of aging and regular physical exercise was investigated on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, glutathione status, and the activity of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) in rat liver. A group of 24 male F344 rats was divided into the following categories: adult control (18 months), adult exercised (18 months), and aged control (28 months) and aged exercised (28 months). The ROS formation increased as a function of age and exercise training decreased the rate of ROS formation in the two age groups. Significant positive correlation was found between ROS production and lipid peroxidation (LIPOX). The reduced glutathione (GSH) level was higher and the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level lower in exercised groups compared with the sedentary controls (P<0.05). An age‐associated increase in NF‐κB activity was attenuated by the regular exercise. The content of p50 and p65 subunits of NF‐κB increased with age and decreased with exercise training. The content of inhibitory factor‐κB was inversely related to NF‐κB activation. Regular exercise‐induced adaptive responses, including attenuation of an increase in ROS production, LIPOX level, NF‐κB activation, and reduced GSH/GSSG ratio, appear to be capable, even in old age, of reducing increases in inflammatory and other detrimental consequences that are often associated with advancing age.

Hesperetin: A Potent Antioxidant Against Peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is a reactive oxidant formed from superoxide (•O2-) and nitric oxide (•NO), that can oxidize several cellular components, including essential protein, non-protein thiols, DNA, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and membrane phospholipids. ONOO- has contributed to the pathogenesis of diseases such as stroke, heart disease, Alzheimers disease, and atherosclerosis. Because of the lack of endogenous enzymes to thwart ONOO- activation, developing a specific ONOO- scavenger is remarkably important. In this study, the ability of hesperetin (3′,5,7-trihydroxy-4-methoxyflavanone) to scavenge ONOO- and to protect cells against ONOO- and ROS was investigated. The data gained show that hesperetin can efficiently scavenge authentic ONOO-. In spectrophotometric analysis, the data revealed that hesperetin led to declined ONOO--mediated nitration of tyrosine through electron donation. Hesperetin exhibited significant inhibition on the nitration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by ONOO- in a dose-dependent manner. Hesperetin also manifested cytoprotection from cell damage induced by ONOO- and ROS. The present study suggests that hesperetin is a powerful ONOO- scavenger and promotes cellular defense activity in the protection against ONOO- involved diseases.

Modulation of glutathione and thioredoxin systems by calorie restriction during the aging process

Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that oxidative stress underlies aging processes and that calorie restriction (CR) retards aging processes, leading to an extended lifespan for various organisms. Recent studies revealed that the anti-aging action of CR depends on its anti-oxidative mechanism. However, at present, the status of glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (Trx) system, two major thiol redox systems in animal cells during aging and its modulation by CR has not fully been explored. The purpose of this study is two-fold: one, to determine whether these two systems in rat kidney are altered as a consequence of aging; two, to determine whether these systems can be modulated by anti-oxidative CR. The results of our study showed that GSH and GSH-related enzyme activities decreased with age in ad libitum (AL)-fed rats, while CR rats consistently showed resistance to decreases in these activities. Data from the present data further showed that while Trx and Trx reductase (TrxR) in cytoplasm decrease with age in AL-fed rats, CR prevents these decreases. In contrast, we also found that the nuclear translocation of the redox regulators, Trx and Ref-1, increase with age, which was suppressed in CR rats. Therefore, increases in nuclear Trx and Ref-1 during aging may result in the up-regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB or AP-1, via the interaction of Ref-1 and Trx in a redox-dependent manner. Our conclusion is that a redox imbalance occurs during aging and that redox changes are minimized through the anti-oxidative action of CR.

NF-κB activation mechanism of 4-hydroxyhexenal via NIK/IKK and p38 MAPK pathway

4‐Hydroxyhexenal (HHE) is known to affect redox balance during aging, included are vascular dysfunctions. To better understand vascular abnormality through the molecular alterations resulting from HHE accumulation in aging processes, we set out to determine whether up‐regulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) by HHE is mediated through nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) activation in endothelial cells. HHE induced NF‐κB activation by inhibitor of κB (IκB) phosphorylation via the IκB kinase (IKK)/NF‐κB inducing kinase (NIK) pathway. HHE increased the activity of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), but not c‐jun NH2‐terminal kinase, indicating that p38 MAPK and ERK are closely involved in HHE‐induced NF‐κB transactivation. Pretreatment with ERK inhibitor PD98059, and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, attenuated the induction of p65 translocation, IκB phosphorylation, and NF‐κB luciferase activity. These findings strongly suggest that HHE induces NF‐κB activation through IKK/NIK pathway and/or p38 MAPK and ERK activation associated with oxidative stress in endothelial cells.

Suppression of age-related inflammatory NF-κB activation by cinnamaldehyde

Redox sensitive, pro-inflammatory nuclear transcription factor NF-κB plays a key role in both inflammation and aging processes. In a redox state disrupted by oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory genes are upregulated by the activation of NF-κB through diverse kinases. Thus, the search and characterization of new substances that modulate NF-κB are of recent research interest. Cinnamaldehyde (CNA) is the major component of cinnamon bark oil, which has been widely used as a flavoring agent in foodstuffs such as beverages and ice cream. In the present study, CNA was examined for its molecular modulation of inflammatory NF-κB activation via the redox-related NIK/IKK and MAPK pathways through the reduction of oxidative stress. Results show that age-related NF-κB activation upregulated NF-κB targeting genes, inflammatory iNOS, and COX-2, all of which were inhibited effectively by CNA. Our study further shows that CNA inhibited the activation of NF-κB via three signal transduction pathways, NIK/IKK, ERK, and p38 MAPK. Our results indicate that CNA’s antioxidative effect and the restoration of redox balance were responsible for its anti-inflammatory action. Thus, the significance of the current study is the new information revealing the anti-inflammatory properties of CNA and the role it plays in the regulation of age-related alterations in signal transduction pathways.

The effect of exercise and nettle supplementation on oxidative stress markers in the rat brain

Chronic swimming training and phytotherapeutic supplementation are assumed to alleviate oxidative damage, and support cell survival in the brain. The effect of forced, chronic swimming training, and enriched lab chow containing 1% (w/w) dried nettle (Urtica dioica) leaf were investigated for oxidative stress, inflammation and neurotrophic markers in Wistar rat brains. The rats were divided into groups subjected to swimming training (6 weeks) or to nettle supplementation (8 weeks) or to a combination of these two treatments. The level of oxidative stress was measured by electron spin resonance (EPR), and by the concentration of carbonylated proteins. Nettle supplementation resulted in a decreased concentration of free radicals in both cerebellum and frontal lobe. Swimming, however, did not influence significantly the oxidative damage nor was it reflected in the carbonyl content. The protein content of nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) was evaluated by E-Max ImmunoAssay in the cerebellum. No changes occurred either with exercise or nettle diet treatments. On the other hand, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) binding activity to DNA increased with the combined effect of swimming training and nettle diet, while the activator protein1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity showed a more profound elevation in the nettle treated animals. The amount of c-Jun decreased by swimming training. In conclusion, the results suggest that both exercise and nettle influenced physiological brain functions. Nettle supplementation reduces the free radical concentration and increases the DNA binding of AP-1 in the brain. Nettle was found to be an effective antioxidant and possible antiapoptotic supplement promoting cell survival in the brain. Exercise, as a downregulator of c-Jun and in combined group as an upregulator of NF-kappaB, may play also a role in antiapoptotic processes, which is important after brain injury.

Ginsenoside Rd inhibits the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 by suppressing NF-κB in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mouse liver

Ginsenoside Rd is a primary constituent of the ginseng rhizome and has been shown to participate in the regulation of diabetes and in tumor formation. Reports also show that ginsenoside Rd exerts anti-oxidative effects by activating anti-oxidant enzymes. Treatment with ginsenoside Rd decreased nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged RAW264.7 cells and in ICR mouse livers (5 mg/kg LPS; LPS + ginsenoside Rd [2, 10, and 50 mg/kg]). Furthermore, these decreases were associated with the down-regulations of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and of nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that ginsenoside Rd treatment decreases; 1) nitric oxide production (40% inhibition); 2) PGE2 synthesis (69% to 93% inhibition); 3) NF-κB activity; and 4) the NF-κB-regulated expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Taken together, our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenoside Rd are due to the down-regulation of NF-κB and the consequent expressional suppressions of iNOS and COX-2.

SMP30 deficiency causes increased oxidative stress in brain

Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30), an important aging marker molecule, has been identified functionally as a calcium regulatory protein. Recent evidence showed its new assumed role as an effective anti-oxidative property. However, the role of SMP30 in the brain has not been explored. To delineate its role in the brain, we utilized SMP30 knock-out (SMP30 KO) mice in the current study. We focused on the oxidative status of the brain by examining selected oxidative markers in brains of SMP30 KO mice. Results showed that the generation of reactive species (RS) and NADPH oxidase activities were significantly elevated in SMP30 deficient brain. The increased oxidative status in these mice was further confirmed by increased oxidatively modified proteins such as dityrosine formation and carbonylation in the cortex of SMP30 KO mice. Moreover, SMP30 deficient brain showed the increased Mac-1 protein and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the brain, supporting the putative anti-oxidative action of SMP30. Interestingly, the activities of major antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione peroxidase in the brain were not affected by SMP30 depletion. Our results documented that brain SMP30 has a protective action against oxidative damage, without influencing antioxidant enzyme status.

The inflammatory process in aging

Aging processes are time-dependent, deteriorative functional changes. These functional changes lead to a progressive loss of the organism’s ability to withstand both internal and environmental stresses, causing the failure of cellular homeostasis. Among the modern hypotheses, the ‘Oxidative Stress Hypothesis’ offers the best mechanistic elucidation of aging phenomena. Based on the ‘Free Radical Theory of Aging’, this hypothesis has gained popularity among researchers in the field of gerontology as well as other biomedical fields. Its primary premise proposes that aging and its related disease processes are the net result of free radical-induced damage, asserting further that an organism’s inability to produce counterbalancing antioxidative defences, i.e. defences that offset disturbances in the redox state, underlies its cause.

Influence of aging and calorie restriction on MAPKs activity in rat kidney.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), which include the extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and the p38 MAPK, are important regulatory proteins by which a wide variety of extracellular signals are transduced into intracellular sites. Recent studies reported that mitogenic signal transduction in various cell types are exquisitely sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the celluar redox status. In the present study, we investigated the activation of MAPK activity by aging and calorie restriction (CR) in rat kidneys isolated from Fischer 344 rats, ages 6, 12, 18, and 24 months fed ad libitum (AL) and CR diets. Results showed that the aging process strongly enhanced all three of the MAPK activities studied, ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK, in parallel to increased ROS status. In contrast, we observed CR to markedly suppress the age-related activation of MAPKs. Based on these data, we concluded that an age-related increase in MAPK activity is associated with increased ROS, which was effectively suppressed by the anti-oxidative action of CR.