IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE Vlasta Svecova Department of Genetic Ecotoxicology, Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, v.v.i. Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4 Tel.: +420 241 062 669, fax.: +420 241 062 785, e-mail: svecova@biomed.cas.cz This thesis deal with impacts of air pollution on human health. The biomarkers of biologically effective dose, biomarkers of oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins, were studied. We aimed at importance of individual pollutants, measured the personal exposure to these pollutants and analyzed the biomarkers of oxidative damage to macromolecules. c-PAHs (carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) bound to airborne PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm) and volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m,p,o-xylenes, BTEX) were studied as ones of the biologically most important pollutants. Personal and outdoor concentrations of c-PAHs together with personal exposure to BTEX were measured. The concentrations of pollutants were correlated with biomarker levels in different seasons and localities. Bus drivers in Prague, 6-10 years old children from Teplice and Prachatice and policemen with office workers from Ostrava region were the model populations. Oxidative damage to DNA were measured by 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), 15-F2t-...

This thesis is focused on protective and antioxidant properties of bile pigment bilirubin. Bilirubin is a potent scavenger of free radicals and reactive oxygen species generated by increased oxidative stress. Mildly elevated systemic levels of bilirubin are actually associated with lower incidence of oxidative stress-mediated diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes and certain types of cancer. The main aim of this thesis was to prepare bilirubin oxidation products in vitro, characterize their physical-chemical properties and thein determine biological impact.

of study named: Effects of selected natural substances on the antioxidant system of an organism Developed: Mgr. Anna Hodková Department of Pharmacology and Toxikology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague Pilsen 2016 The aim of this study was to compare the effects of selected natural substances on the antioxidant defense system under comparable conditions, focusing on influencing the activity of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase (TrxR-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1). Experiments were performed in rats (Wistar, male). Livers, and in some cases kidneys were collected in all experiments. Homogenates were created from the collected organs and subsequently the activity of TrxR-1 and GPx-1, glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were determined. We demonstrated significant effects of selected natural substances on the redox system, including influences of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase. The biggest influence on the activity of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase had hydroxytyrosol (HT) and oleuropein (OLEU). In rat liver tissue there was a significant decrease of the activity of both above mentioned enzymes after...

The thesis deals with antioxidants in food and their function in the process of defence against the effects of free radicals. At first, antioxidants are defined and their clasification is described in the theoretical part. Then this part deals with antioxidants in food, their effects on people´s health and antioxidants recommended daily doses. Possitive and negative effects of free radicals on people´s health and their relation to antioxidants are mentioned next. In the practical part, I concentrate on the survey focused on the investigation of the population awareness of antioxidants and their effects on health. One hundred and sixty respondents took part in the survey. They were devided into two groups; working people and pensioners. The questionnaire contained twelve questions which investigated the population awareness of the topic. The data collection took place in January 2013 and it was evaluated in February 2013. The collected data were evaluated according to basic statistical methods. The ascertained answers were put into unified tables and then they were compared. Especially, the general awareness was investigated and then the effect of education on the knoledge of the topic was considered.

Oxidative stress is an important factor in carcinogenesis of oncohematological diseases. However its role in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remains unclear. In this study, we have determined the oxidative status and evaluated proteomic changes in plasma of MDS patients as a consequence of oxidative dysbalance (oxidative modifications, protein-protein interaction and complex forming). We measured the levels of total cysteine, homocysteine, cysteinyglycine, glutathione, nitrites and nitrates in the plasma from 61 MDS patients and 23 healthy donors using high performance liquid chromatography. Glutathione and nitrites levels reduced significantly while other aminothiols levels increased significantly in plasma of MDS patients. This association with oxidative stress did not correlate with iron overload. We also found enhanced levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in serums of middle aged patients with MDS that correlate to posttranslational modifications of proteins arginyl residues. Furthermore, carbonylated proteins level was significantly elevated in MDS patients compared to healthy donors. Using mass spectrometry, 5 S-nitrosylated blood platelets proteins were identified in plasma and blood platelets of MDS patients and set of 16 plasma proteins with high probability of...

Oxidative processes play important role in cell physiology and pathology as well. Balance of these processes is supplied by cooperating antioxidative systems; function of antioxidant defense systems depens on high levels of antioxidants in organism. Presented work is focused on developement and optimization of methods for analysis of important enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidants as well as total antioxidant capacity of selected types of biological material. Extractions and analyses of vitamin E, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and lipoxygenase in barley and malt were optimized. RP-HPLC and HPLC/ESI-MS were used for analysis of vitamin E, phenolic and carotenoid content, spectrophotometry was used for enzymes activity analysis. A new methods for catalase and lipoxygenase activities were developed and compared with direct UV methods. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined by commercial diagnostic kit. A colorimetric method was used for peroxidase activity determination. Some kinetic parameters of enzymes were provided too. Optimized methods were used in the analyses of antioxidants in plant material - in barley and malt - in sets of samples of 6 varieties cultivated in four different locations for two years. Content of individual antioxidants differed depending on the variety, but usually were not found significant differences in the levels, depending on growing location. Perhaps climatic conditions have the greatest influence on levels of low molecular weight and enzymatic antioxidants at the specific location; oxidation processes are influenced both the quantity of moisture, both by sunlight, which induces oxidative processes in cultivated plants. The activity of antioxidants in barley caryopses is rapidly increasing during the malting process; an elevated temperature and moistness first induces activation the enzyme systems including antioxidant. In caryopsis is metabolic activity increased during which we can expect an increased production of radicals; for this purpose can antioxidant systems be activated that protect cells from damage by oxidative stress. In the second part of work optimized methods were applied in two clinical trials focused on study of the influence of exogenous antioxidants intake on metabolic and antioxidant status in human organism. In the first clinical study influence of food supplement containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E on metabolism of hyperlipidaemics was evaluated. After 3-month supplemenation a lipid profile was improved and serum antioxidant levels increased. The second experiment was focused on enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidant levels in healthy subjects after temporarily intake of specific foods rich in antioxidants. After two-month intake plasma phenolic substances were slightly increased. Total antioxidant capacity and activities of enzyme antioxidants were not affected. Results of both clinical exeriments showed that supplying of antioxidants in natural form or in the form of food supplements does not markedly affect metabolism of healthy subjects, while in patients with chronic diseases antioxidant supplementation can positively influence metabolic status. Results of this work showed that optimized methods are suitable for analyses of antioxidant status parameters and also for monitoring of exogenous antioxidant intake.

The phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis predicts that both, male carotenoid-based sexual ornamentation and their spermatozoa are phenotypically plastic and may be co-affected by the environment. One of the factors affecting their phenotype may be oxidative stress and the ability of organism to eliminate its effect. Oxidative stress may reduce sperm quality because sperm lack the ability to repair DNA, but it can also affect spermatogenesis itself. However, some substances may function as antioxidants, and thus eliminate effect of reactive oxygen species (oxidative stress) in the body. In this study, adult zebra finch males (Taeniopygia guttata) originating from the domesticated and recently wild-derived populations were exposed to the diquat (D), which enhances the oxidative stress, and carotenoid lutein (L), which could have an antioxidant function. Experimental design had factorial character 2x2 with a control (group L, D, LD, control). Neither oxidative stress, carotenoids, nor their interactions affected sperm morphology or velocity and it also did not increase abnormal sperm proportion in the ejaculate. However, the differences were observed at the molecular level, where by inducing the oxidative stress, the sperm had reduced signal intensity of acetylated α-tubulin in the sperm tails....

of study named: Effects of selected natural substances on the antioxidant system of an organism Developed: Mgr. Anna Hodková Department of Pharmacology and Toxikology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague Pilsen 2016 The aim of this study was to compare the effects of selected natural substances on the antioxidant defense system under comparable conditions, focusing on influencing the activity of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase (TrxR-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1). Experiments were performed in rats (Wistar, male). Livers, and in some cases kidneys were collected in all experiments. Homogenates were created from the collected organs and subsequently the activity of TrxR-1 and GPx-1, glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were determined. We demonstrated significant effects of selected natural substances on the redox system, including influences of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase. The biggest influence on the activity of selenoenzymes thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase had hydroxytyrosol (HT) and oleuropein (OLEU). In rat liver tissue there was a significant decrease of the activity of both above mentioned enzymes after...

Background: Oxidative stress is supposed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases which are connected with increased formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Oxidative stress could play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and sepsis, acute and chronic pancreatitis or in the development of cancer. Organisms are protected against RONS from antioxidant system that is composed of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants. To the most important antioxidant enzymes belong superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and paraoxonase (PON). The aim of this Doctoral Thesis was to investigate the behaviour of three of these antioxidant enzymes - CuZnSOD, CAT and PON1 in different pathophysiological states. Materials and methods: The activities of CuZnSOD, CAT and PON1 were measured in six different pathophysiological states. Forty patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), 35 women with depressive disorder (DD), 30 septic patients (SP), 50 patients with pancreatic cancer (PC), 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 13 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) were included in different studies together with sex- and age-matched healthy controls (CON). Patients with AP and SP were observed in the course...

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute myocardial infarction, are the leading causes of death in developed countries including the Czech Republic. One of the ways to increase cardiac resistance against acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is adaptation to chronic hypoxia. However, changes at the molecular level associated with this adaptation have still not been fully explored. It is obvious that the myocardial function depends on maintaining membrane integrity and cellular homeostasis of cardiomyocytes. From this perspective, phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are the key enzymes that take part in the remodeling and repairing of the cell membranes. Moreover, PLA2 are also involved in generation of lipid signaling molecules - free long chain fatty acids (FA) and 2-lysophopholipids. In myocardium, members of three major PLA2 classes are present: cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) and secretoric PLA2 (sPLA2). This thesis aimed to determine the following in the left ventricular myocardium of adult male Wistar rats: 1) The effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH; 8 hours/day, 5 days/week, 5 weeks, ~ 7000 m) on the expression of total cPLA2α and its phosphorylated form (p-cPLA2α, Ser505 ), and further iPLA2 and sPLA2IIA, as well as signaling proteins activating cPLA2α enzyme...