Les maladies cardiovasculaires (MCV) sont la première cause de décès dans le monde. Une alimentation riche en précurseurs de méthyles pourrait diminuer le risque de survenue des MCV. Le statut en PDM a de très nombreuses conséquences car son altération va des risques de défaut de fermeture du tube neural au cours de l'embryogenèse au développement de maladies chroniques. Les PDM interviennent dans la voie de reméthylation de l'homocystéine en méthionine. Une diminution des niveaux de PDM entraîne une hyperhomocystéinémie considérée comme un facteur de risque de MCV via notamment son rôle dans le développement de l'athérosclérose. Relativement peu d'études se sont intéressées à l'effet d'une déficience en PDM sur le coeur. Afin de mieux comprendre les conséquences de la déficience en PDM sur cet organe, nous avons analysé les modifications du protéome myocardique chez des ratons de 21 jours nés de mères nourries avec un régime carencé en PDM comparativement à des ratons issus de mères normalement nourries. Les résultats de notre analyse protéomique ont montré que l'abondance de 22 protéines était augmentée entre 1,1 et 1,7 fois, alors que celle de 17 autres était diminuée entre 1,1 et 2,3 fois. Ces protéines interviennent surtout dans la production d'énergie cellulaire (21%), le métabolisme lipidique (18%) et le stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) (15%). Au moyen de l'outil bio-informatique "Ingenuity Pathway Analysis", nous avons montré que 34 d'entres-elles appartenaient à un réseau métabolique en relation avec "une perturbation du développement cardiaque et une altération cellulaire et du métabolisme lipidique". De plus, la carbonylation, principale modification posttraductionnelle oxydative des protéines, quantifiée par une technique de Dot-blot était augmentée de 1,9 fois dans le myocarde des ratons déficients en PDM comparativement aux contrôles. Afin d'étudier les mécanismes à l'origine de ces changements, nous avons développé un modèle in vitro de cellules cardiaques déficientes uniquement en folates ou en PDM. Des cellules de la lignée H9c2, dérivée de cardiomyoblastes embryonnaires de rat, ont été cultivées jusqu'à 4 jours dans un milieu carencé en folates (F) ou en PDM, comparativement à un milieu complet (C). Ceci nous a permis de disposer de deux modèles, constitués : (1) de cellules uniquement déficientes en folates et ne produisant pas davantage d'Hcy que les cellules contrôles, et (2) de cellules déficientes en au moins 2 PDM (folates et vitamine B12) et produisant des quantités accrues d'Hcy. Une analyse comparative des protéomes des cellules F et PDM vs C a permis d'identifier des différences et similitudes entre les 2 déficiences. Treize protéines présentant des abondances significativement différentes entre les cellules carencées pendant 4 jours en folates ou en PDM et leurs contrôles ont été mises en évidence : 7 avaient une abondance accrue et 6 une abondance diminuée. La comparaison des résultats obtenus a montré que des protéines mitochondriales ou intervenant dans la structure cellulaire n'ont été identifiées que dans le modèle de déficience en PDM. Nos résultats ont aussi démontré que les 2 types de carences affectaient des voies similaires à celles retrouvées dans notre étude in vivo : métabolisme énergétique et stress du RE. Nous avons alors confirmé que des protéines chaperones, a-crystalline B et prohibitine, avaient leur expression modifiée de la même manière dans les modèles de déficience in vivo (myocarde des ratons) et in vitro (cardiomyoblastes). Notre étude a également montré que l'induction rapide du stress du RE dans les cardiomyoblastes déficients en PDM est suivie par l'activation plus tardive du système d'ubiquitination des protéines et probablement de la voie de dégradation protéolytique dépendante du protéasome. En conclusion, cette thèse ouvre de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension des mécanismes des effets de la déficience en PDM ou en folates au niveau cardiaque. / No abstract available

M.Tech. / Cardiovascular disease and its complications accounts for about half of all deaths worldwide. As conventional risk factors do not successfully explain all of these cases, homocysteine (Hey) appears to be a new and promising field to investigate as an accompanying risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (Stanger et al., 2004). Hyperhomocysteinaemia, or elevated Hey levels, have been shown to be directly linked to the development of cardiovascular disease (Wald and Morris, 2002). Crataegus oxyaeantha Mother Tincture (0) has been used over centuries for various cardiovascular disease conditions and is considered to have cardio-protective properties (Rose and Treadway, 1999), however its effect on homocysteine levels has not been researched. The atm of this double-blind placebo-controlled study was to determine the effect of homoeopathically prepared Crataegus oxyaeantha (J on Hey levels in males aged 25-35 years of age by measuring Hey levels in the blood over a three week period. Participants attended an initial consultation where the procedure of the research was discussed, a short medical history was taken, and a full cardiovascular examination together with vital signs was assessed. Thereafter a pathology laboratory (Lancet laboratories) measured Hey levels of the participants. Those participants that qualified for the study were divided into two groups of fifteen. The experimental group received a 25mL bottle of Crataegus oxyaeantha 0 and the placebo group received a 25mL bottle of alcohol identical in appearance and taste. Participants were informed not to make any substantial changes to their diet and lifestyle. After three weeks a second Hey test was completed and a follow up consultation was scheduled. Collected data was statistically analyzed and a Chi Square goodness of fit test was utilized to determine if there was any significant decrease in Hey levels in the participating individuals. Preliminary findings suggest that Crataegus oxyaeantha (J was not effective in reducing plasma Hey levels in adult males with Hey levels of 6.3 mmoVL and higher, however more research over an extended period of time is needed to confirm these findings.

No description available.

Background/objective: Environmental and dietary exposures alter the levels of homocysteine in the human body; little is known about the effect of smoking status on homocysteine levels. This study aimed to examine the effect of smoking status on homocysteine levels and to determine if the association is modified by estradiol and cholesterol. Methods: National representative data (n=4,580) were obtained for adults aged ≥20 years. The outcome was homocysteine and exposure was smoking status, categorized as current, former or never smoker. Current smoker defined as a person who smoked ≥100 cigarettes in their lifetime and at least once in the last month; former smoker- one who had smoked ≥100 cigarettes and had quit smoking at the time of the interview; never smoker- adult who never smoked cigarettes in their lifetime. General linear models (GLM) were used to examine the associations between smoking status and homocysteine levels; while assessing the impact of estradiol and cholesterol. Estradiol was stratified as low (/ml), normal (10-40 pg/mL), and high (>40 pg/ml). Cholesterol- stratified as normal (<200mg/dl) or high (≥200mg/dl). Results: Adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, education, and income level, smoking status was associated with the levels of serum homocysteine using unadjusted GLM (p0.05). Adjusting for multiple comparisons using Tukey’s method, there were statistically significant differences between former smokers and never smokers (p Conclusion: Homocysteine levels were found to vary among smoking strata. Statistically significant differences exist between former smokers and never smokers. Former smokers may be more prone to having risk factors of elevated homocysteine levels compared to never and current smokers, putting them at risk of cerebrovascular accidents and acute coronary syndromes. These findings suggest that it is vital for people not to initiate smoking. Keywords: Smoking, Homocysteine, Sex hormones, Estradiol, Cholesterol.

Increased blood plasma concentrations of the aminothiol homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with a variety of disease states including those which cause impaired renal function, many forms of cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Therefore, Hcy has the potential to be a significant diagnostic biomarker. Routine monitoring of Hcy plasma concentration is encumbered by the time and resources required to quantify Hcy using currently accepted instrumental analysis methods. As part of the continuing effort to develop a quick, reliable, inexpensive, and user-friendly test to quantify Hcy at the point of care, we have designed a series of novel colorimetric and fluorescent chemical probes based on bridged viologen structures. The absorbance at 540 nm for the para-bridged bis-nitrile viologen probe (pCN) was found to be proportional to the concentration of Hcy analyte, with LOD = 2.17 μM and LOQ = 6.10 μM where unhealthy Hcy plasma concentrations are > 15 μM. The mechanism of reactivity between pCN and Hcy encompasses a dynamic set of reactions which involve pimerization of radical probe species and thioether adduct formation of pCN with Hcy. Preliminary results with fluorometric analogs of the bridged viologen probes are also presented.

Background: Epidemiology, clinical trials and meta-analysis studies have established that Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for stroke. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the HHcy-induced risk of stroke is unclear. Our study aims to investigate the role of HHcy in stroke. Methods and results: We established a mice mode of focal ischemic stroke, termed transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (tMCAO) and conducted surgery on a mice model of HHcy (plasma homocysteine level ~150μM), in which a Zn2+ inducible human cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) transgene was introduced to circumvent the neonatal lethality of the CBS gene deficiency (Tg-hCBS Cbs-/- mice). Fourteen-week-old male mice were used in the experiment. A student’s t-test was used for the evaluation of the statistical significance between the two groups. For the comparison across multiple groups, one-way ANOVA was used. We found that HHcy 1) increased the infarction volume from 42.3 ± 4.9 mm / Pharmacology

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We previously demonstrated that homocysteine (Hcy) suppresses endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and post-injury EC repair, but the molecular mechanism underlying Hcy-induced EC injury is unclear. In this study, we identified a novel gene, Carom, which mediates Hcy-induced suppression of EC migration and angiogenesis. We identified FCH and double SH3 domains 2 (FCHSD2), a novel gene, as an Hcy-responsive gene through Differential Display in Hcy (50µM)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). FCHSD2 was initially named as Carom, based on the identification of this molecule as an interacting protein of calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) and membrane associated guanylate kinase, WW and PDZ domain containing 1 (MAGI1). In this thesis, we describe this gene as Carom. Carom belongs to the Fes/CIP4 homology and Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (F-BAR) protein family, which is a group of multivalent adaptors linking plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, involved in endocytosis and cell migration. However, Carom's function is poorly characterized. Based on the findings that CASK and MAGI1 inhibit cell migration and growth, and the role of F-BAR proteins in cell migration, we hypothesize that Hcy up-regulates Carom to inhibit EC growth and/or migration, finally leading to CVD. We confirmed the significant induction of Carom mRNA expression in Hcy-treated HUVECs or human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) by Northern blot and Real-time PCR. In addition, we found that Carom protein expressions were significantly increased both in Hcy-treated HAECs and lung ECs isolated from HHcy mice by Western blot using our homemade rabbit antibody against Carom. These data indicate that Hcy increases endothelial expression of Carom both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, in order to characterize Carom function in EC, we generated recombinant adenovirus Adv-Carom to transduce Carom for gain-of-function study and Adv-Carom-shRNA to express Carom shRNA for loss-of-function study. We found that neither adenovirus-transduced Carom expression nor adenoviral Carom shRNA had any impact on HUVEC proliferation by using [3H]-thymidine incorporation. Interestingly, we demonstrated that Adv-Carom inhibited HAEC migration, while Hcy-induced HEAC migration inhibition could be rescued by Adv-Carom-shRNA. These data suggest that Carom may inhibit angiogenesis via a cell proliferation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, we found that Hcy significantly increased the intracellular level of S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) but not S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), and decreased the SAM/SAH ratio, an indicator of cellular methylation, in HAECs, by using High-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to measure SAH and SAM levels. Meanwhile, Carom protein expression was significantly induced by azacytidine (AZC), a DNA methyltransferse inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner in HAECs. Based on these data, we speculated that Hcy-induced hypomethylation could associate with Carom up-regulation. Thus we used bisulfite deep sequencing to profile methylation status of Carom gene in Hcy-treated HUVECs and found that Carom promoter was hypomethylated by Hcy. In addition, eight transcriptional factor binding sites on Carom were hypomethylated by Hcy. These data suggest that Hcy may induce Carom via a DNA hypomethylation-dependent mechanism. Moreover, we found that adenovirus-transduced Carom expression significantly increased the secretions of two anti-angiogenic chemokines, CXCL10 and CXCL11 in HAECs by using human cytokine array. Similarly, Hcy also significantly increased mRNA expressions of CXCL10 and CXCL11, while Adv-Carom-shRNA blocked down the inductions of CXCL10 and CXCL11 by Hcy. We further demonstrated that adenovirus-transduced Carom expression inhibited angiogenesis by performing tube formation assay of HAECs, whereas Hcy-induced angiogenesis suppression were rescued by Adv-Carom-shRNA as well as the neutralizing antibodies of CXCL10 and CXCL11. These data suggest that Hcy induces Carom to trigger CXCL10 and CXCL11 downstream to inhibit angiogenesis. In conclusion, Hcy induces Carom expression through DNA hypomethylation to inhibit EC migration and angiogenesis. / Pharmacology

A series of studies were conducted to evaluate effects of lactation, exercise, and anti-folate drugs on folate status in the horse, and the bioavailability of supplement and feed folate in the horse. In the first study, mares and foals had adequate plasma folate, RBC folate, and plasma homocysteine concentrations during 6 mo of lactation and growth. Therefore, mares and foals maintained on quality grass/legume pastures and offered a pasture supplement did not require additional folate supplementation to maintain folate status during lactation and growth. In the second study, 25 mg of oral folic acid (FA) supplemented 5 times/wk to 11 mature horses engaged in routine submaximal exercise did not improve folate status, submaximal athletic performance, or combat the increase in oxidative stress during the 12 wk supplementation period compared to 11 horses not given supplemental folate. The common practice of supplementing horses with oral FA in vitamin supplements appears to be of little benefit to horses engaged in routine submaximal exercise. In the third study, daily oral administration of pyrimethamine (PYR) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) for 9 wk followed by 6 wk of coadministration of either Peptidoglycan or FA was associated with a decline in folate status resulting in moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, but not clinical signs of anemia. Peptidoglycan as a source of formylated folate and FA were not effective in improving folate status in horses coadministered PYR and SDZ, two anti-folate drugs commonly administered in equine veterinary practice. The last study assessed the bioavailability of oral and i.v. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-mTHF), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-fTHF), or FA, and the bioavailability of folate from concentrates fed to horses. The minimum efficiency of absorption for supplemental FA was 11 %. The low bioavailability of FA indicates a need for further research on the potential benefits of alternative sources of folate, including 5-fTHF, on increasing folate status in the horse. / Ph. D.

M. Tech (Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences) Vaal University of Technology. / Background: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most common causes of death worldwide. This is not only a problem in developed countries, it is of major concern for public health in developing countries as well. Increased homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Nutritional deficiencies of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. MTHFR A1298C, a single nucleotide polymorphism, is similarly linked with higher concentrations of homocysteine. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MTHFR A1298C in a black elderly population, along with folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and to evaluate the effect on homocysteine levels. Methodology: The research design was an observational cross-sectional study and was ethically approved. A total of 84 elderly who attend a day-care centre (also met inclusion criteria) were purposively selected. DNA was extracted and frozen on the day of blood collection. The MTHFR A1298C genotype was determined with real time PCR. Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 serum levels were detected with commercial assay kits. Results: Homocysteine was found to be elevated with a median of 17.78 µmol/L (interquartile range 13.98-21.03 µmol/L). Serum folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 medians were in the normal range. Although, 5.95% and 22.62% of the population were deficient and possibly deficient for vitamin B12, respectively. MTHFR A1298C frequency was as follow: 89.29% (AA), 9.52% (AC) and 1.19% (CC), with no significant correlation (p>0.05) with homocysteine. Vitamin B12 correlated significantly with homocysteine levels. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency had an effect on homocysteine levels. Overall, nutritional deficiencies are not responsible for the hyperhomocysteinemia in this population. In conclusion from this study showed MTHFR A1298C frequency in black South Africans does not contribute to homocysteine as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, elderly, folate, homocysteine, MTHFR A1298C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12.

La dysoxie (hypoxie/hyperoxie) résulte de l’inadéquation entre la consommation en oxygène et ses apports, provoquant altérations du métabolisme cellulaire et impact physiopathologique majeur. L’hypoxie et l’inflammation font intervenir les facteurs HIF-1a et NF-kB qui activent le système adénosinergique. L’hypoxie augmente la concentration d’adénosine, entraîne une surexpression d’A2AR et induit une immunosuppression lymphocytaire T. Nous avons fait l‘hypothèse que l’inflammation via NF-kB influençait la suppression lymphocytaire adénosinergique; qu’une hyperhomocystéinémie favoriserait l’inflammation en modifiant la viabilité lymphocytaire; qu’in vivo, la réponse adénosinergique était modulée par l’hyperoxie. Des lymphocytes T ont été soumis à une inflammation (agents mitogènes) et à une hypoxie chimique (CoCl2). Nous avons analysé l’expression de NF-kB, HIF-1α, A2AR et évalué les concentrations en adénosine, adénosine déaminase, AMPc, et homocystéine. Enfin, nous avons étudié les effets de l’hyperoxie/hyperbarie sur la réponse adénosinergique. L’hypoxie stimule la réponse adénosinergique : NF-kB induit HIF-1α qui augmente l’expression d’A2AR, favorisant l’immunosuppression. L’inhibition de NF-kB par H2S bloque l’immunosuppression via HIF-1α/A2AR. In vivo, l’hyperoxie inhibe la réponse adénosinergique via la diminution de l’expression d’A2AR. Hypoxie et hyperoxie ont un effet en miroir sur le système adénosinergique. Manipuler la concentration en O2 permet de piloter système immunitaire et inflammation via A2AR. L’utilisation d’H2S pourrait traiter des pathologies à fort impact en santé publique, tels des troubles cardiovasculaires favorisés par l’hyperhomocystéinémie. / Dysoxia (hypoxia/hyperoxia) results from an impaired balance between oxygen-supply concentration and cellular metabolism causing various disorders. Hypoxia and inflammation involve HIF-1a and NF-kB factors and are linked via the adenosinergic response. Hypoxia increase adenosine concentration and A2A receptors (A2AR) expression which induces T-lymphocyte suppression. We hypothesized that during hypoxia, inflammation influences adenosinergic immunosuppression via NF-kB. As homocysteine promotes inflammation, which is considered as a risk factor, we hypothesized that hyperomocysteinemia affects T-cell viability and adenosinergic response. Effects of hyperoxic and hyperbaric conditions on adenosinergic system remain unclear. NF-kB, HIF-1α, and A2AR expression were studied using T-cells stimulated by mitogens under hypoxic conditions (CoCl2). Adenosine, adenosine deaminase, cAMP concentration and homocysteine metabolism were analyzed. Effect of hyperoxia on the adenosinergic pathway was addressed in a rat model using pressure chambers. HIF-1α production was induced by hypoxia, A2AR expression increased following NF-kB activation that enhanced lymphocyte-suppression. Inhibition of NF-kB by H2S resulted in improved cell-viability by down-regulating A2AR-mediated-immunosuppression. Hyperhomocysteinemia increased H2S production (transsulfuration-pathway). We also found in rat that hyperoxia repressed the adenosinergic response. Manipulating blood oxygen level constitutes an effective mean to control the immune response and inflammation via the adenosinergic system. Acting on A2AR expression via H2S production may control cardiovascular-disorders with high impact on public health.