Contexto: A suplementação de ácido fólico (AF) melhora a função endotelial de indivíduos infectados pelo HIV em uso contínuo de terapia antirretroviral (TARV). A literatura não demonstra com clareza esse benefício em indivíduos coinfectados HIV-HCV. Introdução: Indivíduos infectados pelo HIV ou em coinfecção pelo HIV-HCV apresentam um conjunto de fatores de risco que podem levar a disfunção endotelial. Estudos demonstram que a administração de AF possui efeitos benéficos sobre a função endotelial de diferentes populações com risco cardiovascular, inclusive em HIV monoinfectados. Objetivo: Determinar o efeito da suplementação de AF por quatro semanas sobre a dilatação mediada (FMD) pelo fluxo da artéria braquial em indivíduos infectados pelo HIV ou HIV-HCV em uso contínuo de TARV. Delineamento: Ensaio clínico randomizado (ECR), controlado por placebo. Local: Ambulatório de doenças infecciosas do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria. População: Foram avaliados 69 indivíduos com idade entre 18-50 anos, de ambos os sexos, infectados pelo HIV com ou sem coinfecção pelo HCV, em TARV e com carga viral indetectável há mais de seis meses. Excluíram-se participantes com diabetes mellitus, infarto agudo do miocárdio, revascularização miocárdica, ou acidente vascular encefálico prévios, com creatinina >1,5 mg/dL, diagnóstico clínico, ecográfico, endoscópico ou laboratorial de cirrose hepática, em uso de estatinas, fibratos, terapia de reposição hormonal, sulfonamidas, suplementos vitamínicos, ou AF nos últimos 30 dias. Adicionalmente foram excluídas mulheres grávidas, e participantes de outro ECR. Intervenção: Indivíduos alocados para o grupo intervenção receberam AF, 5 mg, via oral, em dose única diária, pela manhã, durante quatro semanas. Os participantes alocados para grupo placebo receberam orientação para seguir a mesma posologia, sendo os comprimidos indistinguíveis em cor, aroma, sabor, forma e tamanho. Desfechos: Utilizaram-se as variações nos níveis de homocisteína, vitamina B12 e na FMD, aferida por Doppler, na artéria braquial, obtidos na randomização e ao final do seguimento. Resultados: Realizou-se o rastreamento de 239 participantes, sendo 72 elegíveis, 69 randomizados e 68 acompanhados, entre outubro de 2012 e julho de 2013. Em indivíduos infectados pelo HIV houve aumento significativo nos níveis de AF (12,8 ng/ml) no grupo intervenção em comparação ao placebo (P<0,001), acompanhada de variação negativa de homocisteína (-1,9 umol/l) no grupo intervenção e aumento mínimo no grupo placebo (P<0,001). Não houve variação significativa na FMD (P=0,9). Entre indivíduos coinfectados por HIV-HCV, a variação nos níveis de AF foi decorrente da elevação no grupo intervenção (12,6 ng/ml) e redução no grupo placebo (-0,7 ng/ml) (P<0,001). Os níveis de homocisteína aumentaram no grupo placebo (4,6 umol/l) e diminuíram no grupo intervenção (-1,0 umol/l) (P<0,0003). Em relação ao FMD, houve tendência à redução percentual no grupo intervenção e aumento no grupo placebo (P=0,007). As variações de vitamina B12 não foram significativas, independente do status de infecção para HCV. Conclusão: Esse estudo demonstrou que a suplementação de AF por um curto período de tempo, esteve associada com redução de homocisteína sérica, mas não modificou a FMD da artéria braquial, aferida por Doppler, em indivíduos adultos infectados pelo HIV ou HIV-HCV em uso de TARV. / Context: The supplementation of folic acid (FA) improves endothelial function in HIV-infected individuals in continuous use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The literature does not clearly show this benefit in coinfected HIV-HCV. Introduction: Individuals infected with HIV or HIV-HCV coinfected presents a set of risk factors that can lead to endothelial dysfunction. Studies show that FA management has beneficial effects on endothelial function in different populations with cardiovascular risk, including HIV monoinfected. Objective: To determine the effect of FA supplementation for four weeks on the mediated dilation (FMD) by brachial artery flow in patients infected with HIV or HIV-HCV continuous HAART. Design: Randomized clinical trial (RCT), placebo-controlled study. Location: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Santa Maria. Population: A total of 69 subjects aged 18-50 years, of both sex, HIV or HIV-HCV infected, on HAART, with undetectable viral load for more than six months. Patients presenting with diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or stroke prior, with creatinine >1,5 mg/dL, clinical diagnosis, ultrasound, endoscopic or laboratory evidence of liver cirrhosis, on statins, fibrates, hormone replacement therapy, sulfonamides, vitamin supplements, or FA in the last 30 days. In addition pregnant women were excluded, and participants in a RCT. Intervention: Subjects allocated to the intervention group received FA, 5 mg orally once daily in the morning for four weeks. Participants allocated to placebo group were instructed to follow the same dosage, being indistinguishable tablets in color, aroma, taste, shape and size. Outcomes: changes were used in the levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and FMD, measured by Doppler, in the brachial artery obtained at randomization and at the end of follow-up. Results: We carried out the screening of 239 participants, 72 eligible, 69 randomized and 68 accompanied, between October 2012 and July 2013. In HIV-infected patients there was a significant increase in the levels of FA (12.8 ng/ml) in the intervention group compared to placebo (P <0.001), accompanied by negative variation of homocysteine (1.9 umol/L) in the group intervention and minimal increase in the placebo group (P <0.001). There was no significant change in FMD (P = 0.9). Between individuals coinfected with HIV-HCV, the variation in FA levels was due to the increase in the intervention group (12.6 ng/ml) and reduction in the placebo group (-0.7 ng / ml) (P <0.001). Homocysteine levels increased in the placebo group (4.6 umol/L) and decreased in the intervention group (-1.0 umol/L) (P <0.0003). Regarding the FMD, there was a tendency to percentage reduction in the intervention group and increased in the placebo group (P = 0.007). Variations of B12 were not significant, independent of HCV infection status. Conclusion: This study showed that AF supplementation for a short term, was associated with reduced serum homocysteine, but did not change the FMD of the brachial artery, measured by Doppler in adults infected with HIV or HIV-HCV in HAART.

A transcobalamina II (TCII) é a única proteína que leva a cobalamina (Cbl) para dentro das células. A TCII ligada a Cbl é denominada Holo-TC. Polimorfismos no gene TC2 podem alterar tanto a função como a concentração de Holo-TC. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar se o parâmetro Holo-TC é um bom marcador de deficiência de Cbl; avaliar o efeito dos polimorfismos TC2 P259R, I23V e Q234R nos marcadores da deficiência da Cbl; verificar os fatores de predição para os valores de tHcy, SAM/SAH, MMA e Holo-TC nas gestantes e seus recém- nascidos. A Holo-TC não foi bom marcador para discriminar as gestantes com e sem deficiência de Cbl, diferente do encontrado no grupo de recém nascidos. Os genótipos matemos para os polimorfismos TC2 P259R e I23V não foram associados com as alterações nos valores matemos de tHcy, MMA e Holo-TC. Os neonatos portadores dos genótipos PR+RR apresentaram menores valores da razão SAM/SAH e maiores de MMA. Os neonatos com genótipos 23V+23VV apresentaram menores valores de SAM e maiores valores de tHcy. A combinação dos genótipos IV+VV/PR+RR no grupo de gestantes foi associada a menores valores de SAM. Já os neonatos com a mesma combinação de genótipos apresentaram menores valores de SAM e da razão SAM/SAH. O folato sérico foi o melhor fator de predição para a variação da tHcy materna, e a Cbl para os valores de Holo-TC, e finalmente a creatinina e a Cbl foram os fatores de predição para os valores de MMA. A Cbl e o folato foram os preditores para a tHcy neonatal quando foi utilizado apenas as variáveis independentes maternas no modelo de regressão linear múltipla. No entanto, quando as variáveis independentes foram as neonatais, Cbl, folato sérico e SAM/SAH neonatais foram as selecionadas para explicar os valores de tHcy neonatal. Para os modelos neonatais de MMA, a Cbl materna foi a única selecionada quando o modelo foi feito com variáveis independentes maternas. E noutro modelo da MMA neonatal, a Cbl e o genótipo PR + RR neonatal explicaram a variabilidade do MMA neonatal. Para a razão SAM/SAH neonatal, foram o folato sérico e o genótipo RR maternos as variáveis selecionadas quando só foram colocadas as variáveis independentes maternas no modelo. E finalmente, a tHcy e genótipos PR + RR foram as variáveis neonatais selecionadas no modelo de regressão linear múltipla para a razão SAM/SAH neonatal. Podemos concluir que os genótipos para os polimorfismos TC2 P259R e I23V não estão associados a variabilidade dos valores matemos dos metabólitos, no entanto, no recém nascido esta associação foi evidenciada. / Transcobalamin II (TCII) is the only protein that can take cobalamin (Cbl) into cells. When TCII is bound to the Cbl it is called Holo-TC. Polymorphisms inTC2 gene can alter both the function and the concentration of Holo-TC. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the parameter Holo-TC is a good Cbl deficiency marker; to evaluate the effect of the polymorphisms TC2 P259R, I23V and Q234R in the Cbl deficiency markers; to verify the prediction factors for the values of tHcy, SAM/S~ MMA and Holo-TC in pregnant women and their neonates. Holo-TC has proved not be a good marker for discriminating pregnant women with Cbl deficiency from those without Cbl deficiency, unlike what was seen in the neonatal group. Maternal genotypes for polymorphisms TC2 P259R and I23 V were not related with the alterations ofmaternal values of tHcy, MMA and Holo-TC. The neonates presenting genotypes PR+RR showed lower SAM/SAH ratio values and higher MMA values. The neonates with genotypes 23V+23VV presented lower SAM values and higher tHcy values. The combination of genotypes IV+VV/PR+RR in the group of pregnant women was related with lower SAM values. On the other hand, the neonates presenting the same combination of genotypes presented lower SAM values and SAM/SAH ratio values. Se rum folate was the best predictor for the variation of the maternal tHcy, and Cbl for the Holo-TC values. The creatinine and the Cbl were the predictors for the values of MMA. Cbl and folate were the predictors for the neonatal tHcy when only the maternal independent variables were used in the multiple linear regression model. However, when the neonatal independent variables were used, Cbl, serum folate and SAM/SAH of neonates were selected to explain the neonatal tHcy values. For the neonatal models of MMA, only the maternal Cbl was selected for the model with maternal independent variables. In another neonatal MMA model, Cbl and neonatal PR + RR genotype explained the variability of the neonatal MMA. For the neonatal SAM/SAH ratio, serum folate and maternal RR genotype were the variables selected when only the maternal independent variables were used in the model. Finally, tHcy and genotypes PR + RR were the neonatal variables selected in the multiple linear regression model for the neonatal SAM/SAH ratio. We have concluded that the genotypes for the polymorphisms TC2 P25 9R and I23 V are not related to the variability of the maternal values of the metabolites; however, this relation is clear when evaluating the values observed in their newborn babies.

Introdução: O café é uma das bebidas mais apreciadas e consumidas no mundo, por suas características organolépticas e efeito estimulante. Pelos potenciais efeitos na saúde causados por esta bebida surgiu, desde cedo, o interesse da comunidade científica. Como ainda ha controvérsias a respeito do café quanto aos seus reais efeitos, justifica-se este estudo em voluntários saudáveis e consumidores habituais de café. Objetivo: Comparar o consumo de dois diferentes graus de torras de café (torra média e escura) em 3 tipos de café: 100% arábica, blend e blend descafeinado e seus efeitos sobre o perfil metabólico em indivíduos saudáveis. Métodos: Em estudo prospectivo, foram avaliados 70 indivíduos sem qualquer doença associada, sendo 50 mulheres, com idade média de 47 ± 12 anos. Durante o período de seguimento no estudo, os voluntários que preencheram os critérios de inclusão, assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido e iniciaram no estudo, que teve um total de 77 dias. Cada voluntário realizou quatro visitas (T0, T1, T2 e T3). Primeiramente, os participantes foram randomizados para cada tipo de café: 100% arábica, blend ou blend descafeinado. Depois uma nova randomização foi feita para estabelecer a ordem de consumo dos dois graus de torra (média e escura), num estudo do tipo crossover. Na visita T0, o participante foi orientado a parar a ingestão do café ou qualquer alimento fonte de cafeína por 21 dias. Na visita T1 foram randomizados para iniciar o consumo de café filtrado primeiro com um tipo de torra (torra média ou torra escura) por 4 semanas e então com \"crossover\" para o outro tipo (visita T2), com um período total de 8 semanas de consumo de café. O café foi fornecido aos pacientes, sendo do mesmo tipo, do mesmo produtor e com a forma de preparo padronizada e consumo diário de café de 450-600 ml/dia. Após período de \"washout\" (basal) e após cada período de tomada de café por tipo de torra, os pacientes foram submetidos aos exames laboratoriais (Colesterol total e frações, triglicérides, glicemia de jejum, PCR, Lp(a), homocisteína e acido fólico) e avaliação antropométrica (peso e IMC). Resultados: Foi observado aumento do colesterol total, do LDL e do HDL no grupo que consumiu café do tipo Blend, para os dois tipos de torra quando comparados ao basal. Houve aumento significativo da homocisteína no grupo que consumiu café 100% arábica e Blend. No grupo que consumiu café 100% arábica houve aumento significativo da homocisteína somente na torra média quando comparado ao basal. Já no grupo que consumiu o café tipo blend a diferença significativa foi apenas entre as duas torras escura e média, na qual a escura apresentou valor menor que a torra média. Conclusão: Café promove aumento discreto nas dosagens de homocisteína quando consumido o café blend e 100% arábica. Aumentou também o colesterol total, LDL, e ao mesmo tempo o HDL, quando consumido café tipo Blend. Apesar de significativas, as alterações no perfil metabólico foram muito discretas. Seria muito difícil determinar a influência que o café tem no metabolismo lipídico dos indivíduos, mas talvez esse discreto aumento juntamente com algum efeito antioxidante pode contribuir para a redução de morte por doenças cardiovasculares como já foi observado em estudos epidemiológicos / Introduction: Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Given its high consumption, potential health effects caused by this beverage brought the interest of the scientific community. Considering the current knowledge and controversies about drinking coffee daily, justifies this study in healthy volunteers and habitual coffee drinkers. Objectives: To compare the consumption of two different coffee roasts degrees (medium and dark roast) on 3 types of coffee: 100% arabic, blend and decaffeinated blend coffee and its effects on metabolic profile in healthy subjects. Results: 70 healthy subjects, age 47 ± 12 years old participated in the trial. Most subjects were female (71,4%). This randomized crossover clinical trial lasted 77 days. All the volunteers performed four visits (T0 - T1 - T2 -T3). In the visits, the participants had blood samples taken, held clinical examinations and nutritional evaluation, aside from receiving orientation. Randomly, participants should drink 100% Arabic, blend coffee or decaffeinated coffee. Then, in a second stage, again randomly, volunteers were draw to see which roast they would start drinking. In T0, subjects were oriented to stop consuming all the foods and beverages, which contained coffee or caffeine for 21 days. In T1 subjects start consuming medium or dark roast paper-filtered coffee for 4 weeks. In T2 they start the other roast for another additional 4 weeks. In T3, subjects stopped the coffee consumption, thus the study was completed. Participants received the coffee powder according to randomization criteria previously described. It is the same kind of coffee from the same producer and way to prepare. The coffee daily consumption were between 450 -600 ml. After \"washout\" period and after each period drinking coffee, all the subjects had sample bloods taken, to assess total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, glycaemia, homocisteine, acid folic and anthropometric (weight and BMI - body mass index). After analyzing the results, we observed an increase in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels after blend coffee intake. A significative increase in homocisteine levels after 100% Arabic and blend coffee intake. The significant difference in the group that consumed 100% arabic coffee were in between basal and medium roast. But in in group that consumed blend coffee this significant difference in homocisteine were in between the two roasts, higher during medium roast. Conclusions: Those results demonstrate a slight increase in homocisteine, when consumed blend coffee and 100% Arabic coffee. Also increased total cholesterol and LDL but at the same time increased the HDL, when they drank blend coffee. Despite significant, those metabolic alterations were discrete. It is difficult to determine the coffee influence on lipid metabolism, but maybe this slight increase tin HDL together with some antioxidant effect can contribute to the reduction of death from cardiovascular disease as already noted in epidemiologic studies

The imbalance between the oxidant species formation and the activity of antioxidants is known as oxidative stress and it is directly related to the etiology and/or the progression of chronic diseases such as chronic renal failure (CRF), atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The CRF can be the result of variety renal injuries that lead to toxic substances accumulation and metabolic disturbances in the organism. Patients with chronic renal disease on hemodialysis treatment, whose main cause of morbi-mortality is the cardiovascular diseases, are constantly under oxidative stress by the uremic condition, but overall by the hemodialysis treatment, which leads to an increase of reactive species and decrease of antioxidant defenses. Moreover, these patients also present nutritional problems and presence of other comorbity diseases as anemia, hypertension and diabetes that can contribute to increase the oxidative stress state, accented for the hyperhomocysteinemia. However, the influence of the therapeutical treatment on the oxidative stress has still several controversies. Thus, oxidative stress studies and its relationship with medicaments are very important. The aim of this study was to determine which oxidative stress markers were altered in hemodialysis patients, as well as the influence of erythropoietin, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid on these markers and in the hematologic parameters and hyperhomocisteinemia. Plasmatic TBARS, erythrocytic GSH, ALA-D enzyme activity, methemoglobin (MHb), homocysteine (Hcy), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) of 36 hemodialysis patients (HP) and 20 controls (C) were determined with a prior consent of all subjects. The personal information of each patient was used for additional data as medicaments treatment. The results found in HP in comparison with the C had significant increase (p<0,05) for TBARS, erythrocytic GSH, MHb, and Hcy, as well as significant decrease (p<0,05) of ALA-D activity, Hb and Ht. So, it was evident the oxidative stress occur, alterations in antioxidants defense, hyperhomocysteinemia and anemia. However, significant differences in the oxidative stress markers had not been found when they were related to the use of medicaments, co-morbidities presence, life style, time of hemodialysis and accomplishment of simple activities. Thus, this work demonstrated that beyond alterations in oxidative stress markers as TBARS and GSH, it was also found alterations in the ALA-D enzyme activity and in the MHb. Moreover, it was possible to observe that some medicaments as erythropoietin, vitamin B12 and folic acid can be involved in the increase of GSH levels. / O desequilíbrio entre a formação de espécies oxidantes e a atividade dos antioxidantes é denominado estresse oxidativo e está diretamente relacionado à etiologia e/ou progressão de diversas patologias crônicas, dentre as quais a insuficiência renal crônica, aterosclerose e as doenças cardiovasculares. A insuficiência renal crônica pode ser decorrente de uma série de afecções renais que culminam em perda de funcionalidade dos rins, provocando acúmulo de várias substâncias tóxicas no organismo e diversos distúrbios metabólicos. Pacientes com doença renal crônica submetidos à hemodiálise, cuja principal causa de morbi-mortalidade são as doenças cardiovasculares, estão constantemente sob estresse oxidativo em virtude da própria condição patológica, mas, sobretudo, pelo tratamento hemodialítico, que provoca aumento na formação de espécies reativas e diminuição dos níveis de antioxidantes. Além disso, estes pacientes também apresentam problemas nutricionais e a presença de outras doenças co-mórbidas como a anemia, hipertensão e diabetes que podem contribuir para o elevado estresse oxidativo, acentuado ainda mais pela hiper-homocisteinemia. Contudo, a influência do tratamento terapêutico sobre o estresse oxidativo permanece controversa. Sendo assim, estudos do estresse oxidativo e sua interrelação com a terapia medicamentosa são muito importantes. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar quais marcadores do estresse encontram-se alterados nos hemodialisados, bem como a influência de medicamentos como eritropoetina, ferro, vitamina B12 e ácido fólico sobre estes marcadores, sobre os parâmetros hematológicos e hiper-homocisteinemia. Para tal, foram determinadas as substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) plasmáticas, glutationa reduzida (GSH) intra-eritrocitária, atividade sangüínea da enzima ácido δ-aminolevulínico desidratase (ALA-D), metemoglobina (MHb), homocisteína (Hcy), hemoglobina (Hb) e hematócrito (Ht) de 36 pacientes hemodialisados (PH) e 20 indivíduos saudáveis (IS), mediante prévio consentimento. Os prontuários médicos de cada paciente foram utilizados para levantamento de dados adicionais como o tratamento medicamentoso. Os resultados encontrados em PH em relação aos IS demonstraram aumento estatisticamente significativo (p<0,05) de TBARS plasmático, GSH intra-eritrocitária, MHb sangüínea e de Hcy plasmática, assim como diminuição significativa (p<0,05) da atividade da enzima ALA-D sangüínea, de Hb e Ht. Dessa forma, ficou evidente a ocorrência de estresse oxidativo, alterações no sistema antioxidante, hiper-homocisteinemia e anemia. Todavia, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos marcadores do estresse oxidativo analisados quando relacionados ao uso de medicamentos, presença de co-morbidades, hábitos de vida, tempo de hemodiálise e capacidade de realização de atividades simples. Dessa forma, este trabalho demonstrou que, além de alterações em marcadores do estresse oxidativo como TBARS e GSH, também foram encontradas alterações na atividade da enzima ALA-D e na MHb. Ainda, pôde-se supor que alguns medicamentos como eritropoetina, vitamina B12 e ácido fólico podem estar envolvidos no aumento das concentrações de GSH.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfur containing amino acid and is a potent neurotoxin. It has been shown that elevated levels of Hcy, termed hyperhomocysteinemia, plays a role in the pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related cognitive decline. Hcy is a glutamate agonist, which causes in increase in Ca[superscript (2+)] influx via the activation of NMDA class of excitatory amino acid receptors, which results in neuronal cell death and apoptosis. Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones that are responsible for reproduction and maternal behaviour. However, in the last decade, it is evident that both female hormones have neuroprotective properties in many animal models of neurodegeneration. Collectively, both estrogen and progesterone reduce the consequences of the oxidative stress by enhancing the antioxidant defence mechanisms, reducing excitotoxicity by altering glutamate receptor activity and reducing the damage caused by lipid peroxidation. However, the mechanisms by which estrogen and progesterone provide such neuroprotection probably depend on the type and concentration of hormone present. Moreover, numerous studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT, estrogen and progestins) or estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) may prevent or delay the onset of AD and improve cognition for women with AD. Clinical trials have also shown that women taking HRT may modify the effects of Hcy levels on cognitive functioning. Oxidative stress increases in the aging brain and thus has a powerful effect on enhanced susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease. The detection and measurement of lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion radicals in the brain tissue supports the involvement of free radical reactions in neurotoxicity and in neurodegenerative disorders. The hippocampus is an important region of the brain responsible for the formation of memory. However, agents that induce stress in this area have harmful effects and could lead to dementia. This study aims to investigate and clarify the neuroprotective effects of estrogen and progesterone, using Hcy-induced neurodegenerative models. The initial studies demonstrate that estrogen and progesterone have the ability to scavenge potent free radicals. Histological studies undertaken reveal that both estrogen and progesterone protect against Hcy-induced neuronal cell death. In addition, immunohistochemical investigations show that Hcy-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus can be inhibited by both estrogen and progesterone. However, estrogen also acts at the NMDA receptor as an agonist, while progesterone blocks at the NMDA receptor. These mechanisms reduce the ability of Hcy to cause damage to neurons, since Hcy-induced neurotoxicity is dependent on the overstimulation of the NMDA receptor. SOD and GPx are important enzymatic antioxidants which can react with ROS and neutralize them before these inflict damage in the brain. Hcy can increase oxidative stress by inhibiting expression and function of these antioxidants. However, it has been shown that the antioxidant abilities of both estrogen and progesterone can up-regulate the activities of SOD and GPx. These results provide further evidence that estrogen and progesterone act as antioxidants and are free radical scavengers. The discovery of neuroprotective agents is becoming important as accumulating evidence indicates the protective role of both estrogen and progesterone in Hcy-induced neurodegeneration. Thus further work in clinical trials is needed to examine whether reducing Hcy levels with HRT can become the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is symptomized by amyloid-beta plaques in the brain and accounts for more than 65 percent of dementia cases. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency can result in similar cognitive impairment and roughly 15% of the elderly are vitamin B12 deficient. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in the accumulation of toxic methylmalonic acid and homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a strong risk factor for AD. To test if vitamin B12 deficiency stimulates amyloid-beta toxicity, Caenorhabditis elegans expressing amyloid-beta in muscle were fed either vitamin B12-deficient OP50-1 or vitamin B12-rich HT115(DE3) E. coli bacteria. Increased amyloid-beta toxicity was found in worms fed the 0P50-1 diet. Supplementation of the OP50-1 diet with vitamin B12 did not rescue the increased C. elegans toxicity. Knockdown of either of the only two C. elegans vitamin B12-dependent enzymes metr-1 or mmmc-1 protected against toxicity. Therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency does not stimulate Alzheimer’s amyloid-beta-mediated toxicity in C. elegans.

Background: Impaired homocysteine metabolism is associated with a number of vasculopathies including extracranial aneurysms. We analyzed the possible association of nine genetic variants of homocysteine metabolism with the occurrence of intracranial aneurysms. Methods: Caucasian patients (n = 255) treated at two German hospitals for intracranial aneurysms and local controls (n = 348) were genotyped for the following polymorphisms: methionine synthase (MTR) c.2756A→G, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.677C→T, MTHFR c.1298A→C, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) c.844_855ins68, CBS c.833T→C, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) c.594 + 59del19bp, glutathione S-transferase Ω-1 (GSTO1) c.428C→A, reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) c.80G→A and transcobalamin 2 (Tc2) c.776C→G. Results: The G-allele of the missense polymorphism Tc2 c.777C→G was found to be underrepresented in patients, suggesting that this variant may protect from the formation of cerebral aneurysms [odds ratio per two risk alleles (OR) 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30–0.77; p = 0.002]. We obtained borderline results for the G-allele of RFC1 c.80G→A (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.01–2.65; p = 0.051) and the insertion allele of DHFR c.594 + 59del19bp (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.00–2.60; p = 0.059), which were found to be overrepresented in patients. Conclusion: Polymorphisms of homocysteine metabolism are possible risk factors for the formation of intracranial aneurysms. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

La vie a émergé sur Terre il y a probablement 3,8 milliards d'années, sur une planète largement recouverte d'eau. Ce travail porte sur la synthèse prébiotique de peptides, en particulier de peptides riches en thiol. Nous avons étudié les réactions des aminonitriles (les premiers produits de la réaction de Strecker) avec la cystéine et l'homocystéine. Elles conduisent à la formation de cycles à 5 ou 6 chaînons qui sont ensuite hydrolysés pour donner les dipeptides correspondants (aa-Cys ou aa-Hcy). Les dipeptides contenant un thiol obtenus sont capables de favoriser la formation de chaînes peptidiques plus longues via des liaisons thioesters et de favoriser la formation de certains hétérocycles. L'homocystéine nitrile se cyclise dans l'eau pour former l'homocystéine thiolactone, qui présente une double réactivité, la thiolactone est ouverte par des amines puis on observe une condensation de l'aminothiol ainsi formé avec les nitriles. Le nitrile de cystéine et le thioester de S-éthyle de la cystéine conduisent à la formation de polycystéine, tandis que les molécules de type Cys-aa-CN donnent des polypeptides linéaires et cycliques. Nos résultats soutiennent l’hypothèse que des peptides contenant des thiols auraient joué un rôle important dans les premiers stades du développement de la vie. / Life emerged on Earth probably about 3.8 billion years ago, on a planet that was largely covered by water. This work focuses on the prebiotic synthesis of peptides, especially thiol-rich ones. We studied the reactions of aminonitriles (the first products of the Strecker reaction) with cysteine and homocysteine. These reactions lead to the formation of 5- or 6-membered rings which are then hydrolysed to give the corresponding dipeptides (aa-Cys or aa-Hcy). The obtained thiol-containing dipeptides are able to promote the formation of longer peptide chains via thioesters bonds, and to promote the formation of some heterocycles. Homocysteine nitrile cyclizes in water to form homocysteine thiolactone, which shows a double reactivity, thiolactone opening by amines followed by aminothiol condensation reaction with nitriles. Cysteine nitrile and the S-ethyl thioester of cysteine lead to the formation of polycysteine, while Cys-aa-CN molecules gives linear and cyclic polypeptides. Our results support the hypothesis that thiol-containing peptides would have been important molecules in the early stages of life development.

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Homocysteine-Methionine (HM) cycle produces a universal methyl group donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a competitive methylation inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and an intermediate amino acid product homocysteine (Hcy). Elevated plasma levels of Hcy is termed as hyperhomocycteinemia (HHcy) which is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and neural degenerative disease. We were the first to describe methylation inhibition as a mediating biochemical mechanism for endothelial injury and inflammatory monocyte differentiation in HHcy-related CVD and diabetes. We proposed metabolism-associated danger signal (MADS) recognition as a novel mechanism for metabolic risk factor-induced inflammatory responses, independent from pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-mediated pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)/danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) recognition. In this study, we examined the relationship of HM cycle gene expression with methylation regulation in human disease. We selected 115 genes in the extended HM cycle, including 31 metabolic enzymes and 84 methyltransferases (MT), examined their mRNA levels in 35 human disease conditions using a set of public databases. We discovered that: 1) HM cycle senses metabolic risk factor and controls SAM/SAH-dependent methylation. 2) Most of metabolic enzymes in HM cycle (8/11) are located in cytosol, while most of the SAM-dependent MTs (61/84) are located in the nucleus, and Hcy metabolism is absent in the nucleus. 3) 11 up-regulated, 3 down-regulated and 24 differentially regulated SAM/SAH-responsive signal pathways are involved in 7 human disease categories. 4) 8 SAM/SAH-responsive H3/H4 hypomethylation sites are identified in 8 disease conditions. We conclude that HM cycle is a key metabolic sensor system which mediates receptor-independent MADS recognition and modulates SAM/SAH-dependent methylation in human disease. We propose that HM metabolism takes place in cytosol and that nuclear methylation equilibration requires nuclear-cytosol transfer of SAM, SAH and Hcy. CD40 is a cell surface molecule which is expressed on antigen presenting cells such as monocyte, macrophage, dendritic cells and neutrophils. The costimulatory pair, CD40 and CD40L, enhances T cell activation and induce chronic inflammatory disease. Also, DNA hypomethylation on CD40 promotor induces inflammatory monocyte differentiation in chronic kidney disease. In order to figure out if CD40 is a prototypic HM cycle regulated master gene, RNA-seq analysis were performed for CD40+ and CD40- monocytes from mouse peripheral blood and 1,093 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected from those two groups. All the DEGs modulate as much as 15 functional gene groups such as cytokines, enzymes and transcriptional factors. Furthermore, CD40+ monocytes activated trained immunity pathways especially in Acetyl-CoA generation and mevalonate pathway. In HM cycle, CD40 is a prototypic HM cycle regulated master gene to induce the most of the Hcy metabolic enzymes as well as MT, which can further modulate the methylation-regulated pathological signaling. / Biomedical Sciences