Os mecanismos propostos para a gama de ações deletérias provocadas pelo etanol são decorrentes de alterações bioquímicas ocorridas nos hepatócitos tais como: 1) aumento da geração de radicais livres; 2) produção exacerbada de intermediários de alta reatividade vindos de peroxidação de macromoléculas, e 3) depleção de substâncias da defesa antioxidante. A utilização de antioxidantes visando restaurar o sistema antioxidante é uma das linhas de tratamento para os danos provocados pelo etanol. Recentemente, estudos têm apontado para um possível papel antioxidante da tiamina e benfotiamina com efeitos benéficos principalmente em doenças crônicas-degenerativas. Assim este estudo verificou o papel da tiamina ou benfotiamina no sistema antioxidante hepático em ratos com intoxicação aguda por etanol. Verificou-se que o tratamento com tiamina e benfotiamina teve influencia no metabolismo do etanol ficando este mais circulante sem metabolização. Os tratamentos foram eficazes em aumentar os valores hepáticos de tiamina, o que resultou em diminuição dos danos hepáticos e diminuição de vitaminas antioxidantes do fígado. Além disso, a benfotiamina foi capaz de aumentar em 25 vezes os níveis eritrocitários de tiamina não fosfatada em relação à administração de tiamina hidrocloreto. Desta maneira ficou constatada a atividade antioxidante da tiamina frente ao estresse oxidativo provocado pela intoxicação aguda por etanol e a alta biodisponibilidade da benfotiamina. Assim sendo seria recomendada a utilização da benfotiamina como antioxidante mais biodisponível que a tiamina. / The proposed arrangements for the range of deleterious actions caused by ethanol are due to biochemical changes occurring in hepatocytes such as: 1) increasing in generation of free radicals; 2) production exacerbated an intermediary of high reactivity from peroxidation of macromolecules, and 3) depletion of substances of antioxidant defense system. The use of antioxidants aimed at restoring the antioxidant system is a line of treatment for the damage caused by ethanol. Recently, studies have pointed to a possible role of thiamine and benfotiamine as antioxidant with beneficial effects especially in chronic and degenerative diseases. So, the aim of this study was verify the role of thiamine or benfotiamine in the liver antioxidant system in rats treated with acute ethanol. It has been verified that treatment with thiamine and benfotiamine had influence on the metabolism of ethanol leaving it more circulating without metabolism. The treatments were effective in increasing the values of liver thiamine, which resulted in reduction of liver damage and decrease of the consumption of antioxidant vitamins of the liver. In addition, the benfotiamine was able to increase at 25 times the levels of erythrocyte free thiamine in relation to the administration of thiamine hydrochloride. Thus was established the antioxidant activity of thiamine front of the oxidative stress caused by acute ethanol and high bioavailability of benfotiamine. Therefore it recommended the use of more bioavailable benfotiamine as an antioxidant that thiamine.

Os mecanismos propostos para a gama de ações deletérias provocadas pelo etanol são decorrentes de alterações bioquímicas ocorridas nos hepatócitos tais como: 1) aumento da geração de radicais livres; 2) produção exacerbada de intermediários de alta reatividade vindos de peroxidação de macromoléculas, e 3) depleção de substâncias da defesa antioxidante. A utilização de antioxidantes visando restaurar o sistema antioxidante é uma das linhas de tratamento para os danos provocados pelo etanol. Recentemente, estudos têm apontado para um possível papel antioxidante da tiamina e benfotiamina com efeitos benéficos principalmente em doenças crônicas-degenerativas. Assim este estudo verificou o papel da tiamina ou benfotiamina no sistema antioxidante hepático em ratos com intoxicação aguda por etanol. Verificou-se que o tratamento com tiamina e benfotiamina teve influencia no metabolismo do etanol ficando este mais circulante sem metabolização. Os tratamentos foram eficazes em aumentar os valores hepáticos de tiamina, o que resultou em diminuição dos danos hepáticos e diminuição de vitaminas antioxidantes do fígado. Além disso, a benfotiamina foi capaz de aumentar em 25 vezes os níveis eritrocitários de tiamina não fosfatada em relação à administração de tiamina hidrocloreto. Desta maneira ficou constatada a atividade antioxidante da tiamina frente ao estresse oxidativo provocado pela intoxicação aguda por etanol e a alta biodisponibilidade da benfotiamina. Assim sendo seria recomendada a utilização da benfotiamina como antioxidante mais biodisponível que a tiamina. / The proposed arrangements for the range of deleterious actions caused by ethanol are due to biochemical changes occurring in hepatocytes such as: 1) increasing in generation of free radicals; 2) production exacerbated an intermediary of high reactivity from peroxidation of macromolecules, and 3) depletion of substances of antioxidant defense system. The use of antioxidants aimed at restoring the antioxidant system is a line of treatment for the damage caused by ethanol. Recently, studies have pointed to a possible role of thiamine and benfotiamine as antioxidant with beneficial effects especially in chronic and degenerative diseases. So, the aim of this study was verify the role of thiamine or benfotiamine in the liver antioxidant system in rats treated with acute ethanol. It has been verified that treatment with thiamine and benfotiamine had influence on the metabolism of ethanol leaving it more circulating without metabolism. The treatments were effective in increasing the values of liver thiamine, which resulted in reduction of liver damage and decrease of the consumption of antioxidant vitamins of the liver. In addition, the benfotiamine was able to increase at 25 times the levels of erythrocyte free thiamine in relation to the administration of thiamine hydrochloride. Thus was established the antioxidant activity of thiamine front of the oxidative stress caused by acute ethanol and high bioavailability of benfotiamine. Therefore it recommended the use of more bioavailable benfotiamine as an antioxidant that thiamine.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Context: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Myocardial infarction is responsible for the highest number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease. Objective: We have previously shown that acute benfotiamine administration at the onset of reperfusion is associated with decreased infarct size and preserved contractile function in response to ischemia-reperfusion. We aimed to evaluate the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pro-survival signaling pathways in mediating these cardioprotective effects. Materials and Methods: Part One - Hearts were rapidly excised from Wistar rats and mounted on a Langendorff perfusion apparatus. After stabilization, hearts were subjected to 30 minutes of regional ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion. The control group received no treatment. Experimental groups were treated with 100 μM benfotiamine ± 0.1 μM Tyrphostin AG490 or Wortmannin (inhibitors of JAK2 and PI3K, respectively), dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. The vehicle control group received an equivalent dose of dimethyl sulfoxide. All treatments were administered for 20 minutes at the onset of reperfusion. Functional parameters were measured throughout, to test the effects of benfotiamine ± pro-survival pathway inhibitors on functional recovery. In addition, hearts were stained with Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride to assess the effects of benfotiamine ± pro-survival pathway inhibitors on infarct size. Part Two - Hearts that were perfused ± 30 minutes of global ischemia and ± 20 minutes of benfotiamine administration, were used to assess PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT signaling in response to ischemia-reperfusion and benfotiamine treatment. As with previous experiments, benfotiamine was administered at a concentration of 100 μM, at the onset of reperfusion. Tissues were assessed by Western blot analysis. Results: 20 minutes of acute benfotiamine administration at the onset of reperfusion led to a decrease in infarct size (35.6 ± 2.4% vs. 55.7 ± 5.0% [p<0.05]). Inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling by addition of Wortmannin abrogated this infarct-limiting effect (51.5 ± 1.3% vs. 35.6 ± 2.4% [p<0.05]). However, inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling had no effect. There were no significant differences in left ventricular developed pressure, coronary flow rate or heart rate during the experiments. In addition, 20 minutes of acute benfotiamine administration at the onset of reperfusion lead to an increase in phospho-FOXO/FOXO in the cytosolic fraction, but no significant change in phospho-STAT3/STAT3 in the nucleus. Conclusions: Our results suggest that acute benfotiamine administration at the onset of reperfusion may act to reduce infarct size via activation of PI3K/Akt pro-survival signaling. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konteks: Kardiovaskulêre siekte is die hoofoorsaak van sterftes wêreldwyd. Miokardiale infarksie is verantwoordelik vir die grootste aantal sterftes weens kardiovaskulêre siekte. Doel: Ons het voorheen getoon dat akute benfotiamientoediening met die aanvang van reperfusie geassosieer is met „n verkleining in die infarkgrootte, en dit het verder ook die kontraktiele funksie in reaksie op ischemie-reperfusie behou. Ons doel was om die betrokkenheid van die fosfatidielinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) en Janus kinase/seintransduseerde en aktiveerder van transkripsie (JAK/STAT) pro-oorlewings seinweg in die mediasie van hierdie kardiobeskermende effekte te evalueer. Materiale en Metodes: Deel een - Harte is vinnig vanuit Wistarrotte verwyder en op die Langendorff-perfusieapparaat gemonteer. Na stabilisering is die harte blootsgestel aan 30 minute regionale ischemie en 120 minute reperfusie. Die kontrole groep het geen behandeling ontvang nie. Eksperimentele groepe is met 100 μM benfotiamien ± 0.1 μM Tirfostien AG490 of Wortmannin (inhibeerders van JAK2 en PI3K, onderskeidelik) behandel, opgelos in dimetielsulfoksied. Die draer-kontrole groep het „n ekwivalente dosis van dimetielsulfoksied ontvang. Alle behandelings is toegedien vir 20 minute aan die begin van die reperfusie. Funksionele parameters is deurgaans gemeet om te toets vir die effekte van benfotiamien ± pro-oorlewingsweg inhibeerders op funksionele herstel. Verder is die harte met Evans-blou en trifenieltetrazoliumchloried gekleur om die effek van benfotiamien ± pro-oorlewingsweg inhibeerders op die infarkgrootte te bepaal. Deel twee - Harte is vir ± 30 minute perfuseer met globale ischemie en ± 20 minute met benfotiamientoediening. Dit was gebruik om PI3K/Akt en JAK/STAT seine as gevolg van ischemie-reperfusie en benfotiamienbehandeling te ondersoek. Soos met die vorige eksperimente, is benfotiamien toegedien by ‟n konsentrasie van 100 μM met die aanvang van reperfusie. Weefsel is ondersoek deur middel van Western blot analise. Resultate: 20 minute van akute benfotiamientoediening, met die aanvang van reperfusie, het tot „n verkleining in die infarkgrootte (35.6 ± 2.4% vs. 55.7 ± 5.0% [p<0.05]) gelei. Inhibering van die PI3K/Akt seinweg deur toediening van Wortmannin het die infark-beperkende effek opgehef (51.5 ± 1.3% vs. 35.6 ± 2.4% [p<0.05]). Inhibering van JAK/STAT seine het egter geen effek getoon nie. Daar was geen beduidende verskille in linkerventrikulêr-ontwikkelde druk, koronêre-vloeitempo of harttempo tydens die eksperimente nie. Verder, 20 minute van akute benfotiamientoediening met die aanvang van reperfusie het „n toename in fosfo-FOXO/FOXO in die sitosoliese-fraksie veroorsaak, maar geen beduidende verandering in fosfo-STAT3/STAT3 is in die nukleus waargeneem nie. Gevolgtrekkings: Ons resultate suggereer dat akute benfotiamientoediening met die aanvang van reperfusie moontlik die infarkgrootte via aktivering van die PI3K/Akt pro-oorlewingsein kan verklein.