María Pilar Carrera

Plasma oxidative stress parameters in men and women with early stage Alzheimer type dementia

It is well known that oxidative stress is one of the earliest events in Alzheimers disease pathogenesis, indicating that may play a key role in this disease. In our study, we measured the levels of oxidative stress indicators (TBARS and protein carbonyls content) and the non-enzymatic (glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG)) and enzymatic (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) defense systems in the plasma of 46 patients diagnosed of ATD and 46 age-matched controls. We found decreased levels in total GSH in ATD patients, although healthy control women showed lower levels of total GSH than healthy control men. On the contrary, we found increased levels of TBARS and carbonyl groups content in ATD patients in both genders. The activity of the plasma antioxidant enzymes showed no changes for SOD activity in ATD patients, independently of the gender, although western blot analysis showed an increase in SOD-1 protein. CAT activity was also decreased in ATD patients, although this decrease is mainly due to the decrease found in men but not in women. However, western blot analysis did not show differences in CAT protein between controls and ATD patients. Finally, a decrease of GPx activity was found in ATD patients in both genders. However, as with CAT protein, western blot analysis did not show differences in GPx protein between controls and ATD patients. Our results suggest that there is a defect in the antioxidant defense system that is incapable of responding to increased free radical production, which may lead to oxidative damage and the development of the pathological alterations that characterize the neurodegenerative disorder of patients with ATD. Thus, oxidative damage could be one important aspect for the onset of ATD and oxidative stress markers could be useful to diagnose the illness in their earliest stages through both non-invasive, reliable and cost-affordable methods.

Hormonal status modifies renin-angiotensin system-regulating aminopeptidases and vasopressin-degrading activity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of male mice

Local renin-angiotensin systems (RAS) have been postulated in brain, pituitary and adrenal glands. These local RAS have been implicated, respectively, in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system and body water balance, the secretion of pituitary hormones and the secretion of aldosterone by adrenal glands. By other hand, it is known that the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is involved in blood pressure regulation, and is affected by sex hormones. The aim of the present work is to analyze the influence of testosterone on RAS-regulating aminopeptidase A, B and M activities and vasopressin-degrading activity in the HPA axis, measuring these activities in their soluble and membrane-bound forms in the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands of orchidectomized males and orchidectomized males treated subcutaneously with several doses of testosterone. The present data suggest that in male mice, testosterone influences the RAS- and vasopressin-degrading activities at all levels of the HPA axis.

Renin-Angiotensin System-Regulating Aminopeptidase Activities Are Modified in the Pineal Gland of Rats with Breast Cancer Induced by N-Methyl-Nitrosourea

Objective: Pineal function has been considered particularly as a neuroendocrine modulator in hormone responsive tumors, like the hormone-dependent mammary tumors. The complexity of the gland function, moreover, is denoted by the presence of a local renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) that regulates melatonin biosynthesis. Classically, angiotensin II (Ang II) has been considered as the effector peptide of the RAS, but Ang II is not the only active peptide. Several of its degradation products, including angiotensin III (Ang III) and angiotensin IV (Ang IV) also possess biological functions. These peptides are formed via the activity of several aminopeptidases. Our aim is to know their role in the regulation of pineal RAS and breast cancer. Design: Aminopeptidase N (APN), aminopeptidase B (APB) and aminopeptidase A (aspartyl- and glutamyl-aminopeptidase, APA) activities are measured in the pineal gland of rats with breast cancer induced by N-methyl nitrosourea (NMU). Methods: Aminopeptidase activities were measured fluorimetrically using their corresponding aminoacyl-ß-naphthylamides as substrates. Results: Specific APN and APB activities in pineal gland of controls and NMU-treated rats were not modified. Aspartyl aminopeptidase activity significantly decreased in NMU-treated rats when compared with control group. On the contrary, glutamyl aminopeptidase activity did not show significant differences between groups. Conclusions: We propose that the local RAS in pineal gland is modified in rats with breast cancer induced by NMU through the inhibition of AspAP activity, which may lead to increased levels of Ang II. Ang II could be responsible of the overproduction of melatonin, supporting a mechanism to restrain the promotion and/or progression of breast cancer.

Specific enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase activity in the HPT and HPO axes of rats with breast cancer induced by N-methyl nitrosourea

State and function of breast depend on an endocrinological balance, the upsetting of which can be a factor favorable to the development of cancer. Enkephalins (ENK) have been considered as a particular form of adaptation to defense to the organism against neoplastic processes. However, ENK may modify the endocrine functions of glands such as the ovary or the thyroid through the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, acting direct or indirectly as endocrine, paracrine or autocrine stimulatory growth factors. The present work analyses enkephalin-degrading tyrosyl aminopeptidase (EDA) activity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axes in a rat model of breast cancer induced by N-methyl-nitrosourea (NMU) to state the relationship between ENK levels modification through EDA activity at different neuroendocrine levels and breast cancer. Results obtained show a decrease in EDA activity in hypothalamus, anterior and posterior pituitary, thyroid and ovary, suggesting increased levels of ENK in all these locations. These ENK may induce breast cancer cell growth and progression not only at breast level, but also acting at several neuroendocrine levels such as the HPT and HPO axes, inducing an unbalance of several other hormones, which could also facilitate the progression of cancer as an undesirable concomitant effect.

Mammary renin-angiotensin system-regulating aminopeptidase activities are modified in rats with breast cancer.

Angiotensin II in particular and/or the local renin–angiotensin system in general could have an important role in epithelial tissue growth and modelling; therefore, it is possible that it may be involved in breast cancer. In this sense, previous works of our group showed a predominating role of angiotensin II in tumoral tissue obtained from women with breast cancer. However, although classically angiotensin II has been considered the main effector peptide of the renin–angiotensin system cascade, several of its catabolism products such as angiotensin III and angiotensin IV also possess biological functions. These peptides are formed through the activity of several proteolytic regulatory enzymes of the aminopeptidase type, also called angiotensinases. The aim of this work was to analyse several specific angiotensinase activities involved in the renin–angiotensin system cascade in mammary tissue from control rats and from rats with mammary tumours induced by N-methyl-nitrosourea (NMU), which may reflect the functional status of their target peptides under the specific conditions brought about by the tumoural process. The results show that soluble and membrane-bound specific aspartyl aminopeptidase activities and membrane-bound glutamyl aminopeptidase activity increased in mammary tissue from NMU-treated animals and soluble aminopeptidase N and aminopeptidase B activities significantly decreased in mammary tissue from NMU-treated rats. These changes support the existence of a local mammary renin–angiotensin system and that this system and its putative functions in breast tissue could be altered by the tumour process, in which we suggest a predominant role of angiotensin III. All described data about the renin–angiotensin system in mammary tissue support the idea that it must be involved in normal breast tissue functions, and its disruption could be involved in one or more steps of the carcinogenesis process.

Hormonal Status Modifies Renin-Angiotensin System-Regulating Aminopeptidases andVasopressin-DegradingActivity in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis of Female Mice

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) participates in the maintenance of cardiovascular functions and in the control of blood pressure. By other hand, it is known that blood pressure regulation and HPA activity are affected by sex hormones. The aim of the present work is to analyze the influence of estradiol and progesterone on renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-regulating aminopeptidase A, aminopeptidase B and aminopeptidase N activities and vasopressin-degrading activity in the HPA axis of ovariectomized mice and ovariectomized mice treated subscutaneously with different doses of estradiol and progesterone. Our data suggest that in female mice, estradiol and progesterone influence RAS-regulating and vasopressin-degrading activities at different levels of the HPA axis.

Chronic ethanol intake modifies renin–angiotensin system-regulating aminopeptidase activities in mouse cerebellum

In developing cerebellum, where critical periods of vulnerability have been established for several basic substances, it has been extensively studied the wide array of abnormalities induced by exposure to ethanol (EtOH). However, little is known about the effects of EtOH consumption on cerebellar functions in adult individuals. Several studies show participation in cognitive activities to be concentrated in the lateral cerebellum (hemispheres), whereas basic motor functions such as balance and coordination are represented in the medial parts of the cerebellum (vermis and paravermis). In addition to the circulating renin angiotensin system (RAS), a local system has been postulated in brain. The effector peptides of the RAS are formed via the activity of several aminopeptidases (AP). The present work analyses the effect of chronic EtOH intake on the RAS-regulating AP activities in the soluble and membrane-bound fractions of two cerebellar locations: the hemispheres and the vermis. We hypothesize that cerebellar RAS is involved in basic motor functions rather than in cognitive activities.

Effects of orchidectomy and testosterone replacement on mouse enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase activity in the HPA axis

Opiates are involved in the regulation of several functions in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis under physiological conditions. The aim of the present work is to study the influence of orchidectomy and testosterone (T) replacement on soluble (S) and membrane bound (MB) enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase (EDA) activities in the HPA axis. Forty male mice (Balb/C) were distributed in five groups: sham-operated control (C), orchidectomized (OR-C), and orchidectomized treated with increasing doses of T (3, 6 or 12 mg/kg). In hypothalamus, orchidectomy did not modify either S or MB EDA, although T replacement increased S but not MB EDA. In pituitary, neither S nor MB EDA activities changed with orchidectomy, although both activities changed after T replacement. On the other hand, in adrenal glands, orchidectomy increased S and MB EDA activities, whereas T replacement returned both activities to control levels. These results suggest a direct effect of T in S and MB EDA activities and therefore, an influence on their endogenous substrates regulation.

Dietary Fat Including Olive Oil and Breast Cancer in the N-methyl Nitrosourea (NMU) Animal Model

Publisher Summary Although many epidemiological and experimental studies have evaluated the influence of different dietary components on breast cancer, the roles of specific dietary factors are not completely understood, but dietary fat has been directly related with breast cancer incidence. However, the results obtained from different studies are controversial. The hypothesis that dietary fat increases breast cancer risk is largely based on the observation that national per capita fat consumption is highly correlated with breast cancer mortality rates. This chapter presents the effects of dietary fat manipulation at physiological levels on breast cancer using the N-methyl nitrosourea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumor model. It was found that rats fed an olive oil diet have a longer latency period than rats fed sunflower or oleic-acid-enriched sunflower oil, as well as the lowest mortality levels. Therefore, it is concluded that olive oil has the most suitable fatty acid ratio with protective effects against breast cancer compared to other dietary fats, which can be added to the beneficial effects of olive oils minority compounds.

Angiotensinase Activity and Olive Oil Supplementation

Publisher Summary Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and renal disease. Several studies have demonstrated a reduced incidence of hypertension in populations that consume the Mediterranean diet. Although the Mediterranean diet is rich in fiber, fish, fruits, and vegetables, olive oil is its major component and, therefore, represents the major energy source. Several studies have demonstrated the antihypertensive properties of olive oil in animal models, epidemiological studies, and feeding trials. Olive oils precise mechanisms of action for blood pressure reduction are unknown, although several theories have been proposed, including the existence of specific antihypertensive molecules such as 2-hydroxyoleic acid; the presence of polyphenols such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and caffeic acid, with an important antioxidant effect; a general improvement of both monounsaturated fatty acids and/or a non-lipid fraction of olive oil in endothelial function; and the role of olive oil as a calcium channel antagonist. The chapter also proposes that dietary olive oil affects both the circulating and tissue renin–angiotensin systems (RAS) through their regulating angiotensinases. These systems are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, but also in several biological functions, which could also be affected.