Reproductive Regulation and Oxidative Stress Alleviation of Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapy in Ovariectomised Mouse Model
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Authors: Wu, Chung-Hsin; Wang, Sheue-Er; Hsu, Chih-Hsiang; Hsu, Yu-Tsen; Lu, Chen-Wen; Chuang, Wu-Chang; Lee, Ming-Chung
Abstract
In Taiwan, the herbal formula B401 is considered as a health supplement for middle-aged women that can alleviate sweating, anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, the relevant mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the beneficial effects of the herbal formula B401 therapy in the reproductive regulation of ovariectomised mice. Female ICR mice were randomised into four groups: wild-type (WT) mice with sham treatment, wild-type mice treated with the herbal formula B401, bilateral ovariectomised (OVX) mice with sham treatment, and bilateral ovariectomised mice treated with the herbal formula B401. Mice were orally given the herbal formula B401 at a dose of 30 mg/kg bw/day for 2 weeks. At the end of oral treatment with sham or the herbal formula B401, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol-17 beta in the blood; uterine weight and endometrial thickness; and expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), estrogen receptor beta (ER beta), progesterone receptor (PR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in the uterine tissue were examined and then compared among the four groups of mice. We found that OVX mice decreased levels of calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol-17 beta in the blood, decreased uterine weight and endometrial thickness, and decreased expressions of ER alpha, ER beta, PR, and SOD2 in the uterine tissue but increased blood ROS levels compared with those of WT mice. In addition, OVX mice with the herbal formula B401 therapy can increase levels of calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol-17 beta in the blood, increase uterine weight and endometrial thickness, and increase expressions of ER alpha, ER beta, PR, VEGF, and SOD2 in the uterine tissue but decrease blood ROS levels. Our results may provide reasonable explanation for the reproductive regulation of the herbal formula B401 therapy.
Loci associated with genomic damage levels in chronic kidney disease patients and controls
MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS
Authors: Corredor, Zuray; da Silva Filho, Miguel Inacio; Rodriguez-Ribera, Lara; Catalano, Calogerina; Hemminki, Kari; Coll, Elisabeth; Silva, Irene; Manuel Diaz, Juan; Aurelio Ballarin, Jose; Henandez, Alba; Foersti, Asta; Marcos, Ricard; Pastor, Susana
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a multifactorial disorder with an important genetic component, and several studies have demonstrated potential associations with allelic variants. In addition, CKD patients are also characterized by high levels of genomic damage. Nevertheless, no studies have established relationships between DNA damage, or genomic instability present in CKD patients, and gene polymorphisms. To fill in this gap, the potential role of polymorphisms in genes involved in base excision repair (OGG1, rs1052133; MUTYH, rs3219489; XRCC1, rs25487), nucleotide excision repair (ERCC2/XPD, rs1799793, rs171140, rs13181; ERCC4, rs3136166); phase II metabolism (GSTP1, rs749174; GST01, rs2164624; GSTO2, rs156697), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, rs17880135, rs1041740, rs202446; SOD2, rs4880; CAT, rs1001179; GPX1, rs17080528; GPX3, rs870406: GPX4, rs713041) were inquired. In addition, some genes involved in CKD (AGT, rs5050; GL01, rs386572987; SHROOM3, rs17319721) were also evaluated. The genomic damage, the genomic instability, and oxidative damage were evaluated by using the micronucleus and the comet assay in 589 donors (415 CKD patients and 174 controls). Our results showed significant associations between genomic damage and genes directly involved in DNA repair pathways (XRCC1, and ERCC2), and with genes encoding for antioxidant enzymes (SOD1 and GPX1). GSTO2, as a gene involved in phase II metabolism, and MUTYH showed also an association with genomic instability. Interestingly, the three genes associated with CKD (AGT, GLO1, and SHROOM3) showed associations with both the high levels of oxidatively damaged DNA and genomic instability. These results support our view that genomic instability can be considered a biomarker of the CKD status.