Resveratrol augments nitric oxide generation and causes store calcium release in chromaffin cells.

The cardiovascular protecting effect of the grape fruit trans-resveratrol has been explained among other factors, through augmentation of nitric oxide (NO) production in cardiovascular tissues. Another effect of low resveratrol concentration is the inhibition of single-vesicle quantal release of catecholamine from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, that was recently suggested to be an additional factor contributing to its beneficial cardiovascular effects. We have investigated here the effects of a low concentration of trans-resveratrol (1 μM) on Ca(2+) and NO signaling pathways in bovine chromaffin cells, in an attempt to understand the mechanism underlying its previously reported inhibitory effects on quantal secretion.

Intraspecific variability in several isolates of Philasterides dicentrarchi (syn. Miamiensis avidus), a scuticociliate parasite of farmed turbot.

Research on intraspecific variation in ciliates is scarce, and in scuticociliate parasite of fish, virtually nonexistent. In this study, seven isolates obtained from turbots affected by scuticociliatosis in different parts of the Iberian Peninsula (northwest Spain and southwest Portugal) were morphologically and genetically characterized to investigate the intraspecific divergence in these amphizoic ciliates. The isolates were stained with ammoniacal silver carbonate and examined in an optical microscope; all were found to have the typical morphological characteristics described for Philasterides dicentrarchi (syn.

The anti-inflammatory activity of the polyphenol resveratrol may be partially related to inhibition of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) pre-mRNA splicing.

The present study shows for the first time that the polyphenol resveratrol (RESV) blocks processing of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) pre-mRNA in mature mRNA. This study was carried out in turbot (Psetta maxima (L.)), a fish species that we are using to evaluate the effects of RESV on the inflammatory response in vertebrates.

Expression profiles of genes involved in the mouse nuclear factor-kappa B signal transduction pathway are modulated by mangiferin.

The polyphenol mangiferin (MA) has been shown to have various effects on macrophage function, including inhibition of phagocytic activity and of free radical production. To further characterize the immunomodulatory activity of MA, this study investigated its effects on expression by activated mouse macrophages of diverse genes related to the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, using a DNA hybridization array containing 96 NF-kappaB-related genes and on cytokine levels using a cytokine protein array. MA at 10 microM significantly inhibited the expression of (a) two genes of the Rel/NF-kappaB/IkappaB family, RelA and RelB (=I-rel), indicating an inhibitory effect on NF-kappaB-mediated signal transduction; (b) TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (Traf6), indicating probable blockage of activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 1 (IL-1); (c) other proteins involved in responses to TNF and in apoptotic pathways triggered by DNA damage, including the TNF receptor (TNF-R), the TNF-receptor-associated death domain (TRADD), and the receptor interacting protein (RIP); (d) the extracellular ligand IL-1alpha, again indicating likely interference with responses to IL-1; (e) the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and RANTES (CCL5), and cytokines produced by monocytes and macrophages, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF); (f) other toll-like receptor proteins (in addition to Traf6), including JNK1, JNK2 and Tab1; (g) Scya2 (small inducible cytokine A2=monocyte chemoattractant protein 1); and (h) various intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), and the vascular cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1, which is locally increased in atheromas.

Antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects of hydralazine on inducible NOS/COX-2 gene and protein expression in rat peritoneal macrophages.

This study investigated the effects of the peripheral vasodilator hydralazine on in vitro generation of reactive species of oxygen (ROS), nitrogen (RNS) and prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis in elicited murine peritoneal macrophages, and on the gene expression and protein synthesis of two key enzymes in the inflammatory process, inducible NO(*) synthase (NOS-2) and inducible cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Hydralazine at 0.1-10 mM inhibited both extracellular and intracellular ROS production by inflammatory macrophages, by a ROS-scavenging mechanism probably affecting superoxide radical (O(2)(*-))-generation by xanthine oxidase (XO) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH/NADPH) oxidase.

Effects of cis-resveratrol on inflammatory murine macrophages: antioxidant activity and down-regulation of inflammatory genes.

This study investigated for the first time the effects of the cis isomer of resveratrol (c-RESV) on the responses of inflammatory murine peritoneal macrophages, namely on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) during the respiratory burst; on the biosynthesis of other mediators of inflammation such prostaglandins; and on the expression of inflammatory genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Treatment with 1-100 microM c-RESV significantly inhibited intracellular and extracellular ROS production, and c-RESV at 10-100 microM significantly reduced RNS production. c-RESV at 1-100 microM was ineffective for scavenging superoxide radicals (O(2)(.

In vitro effects of mangiferin on superoxide concentrations and expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta genes.

This study investigated the effects of the natural polyphenol mangiferin (MA) on superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) production, xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, vascular contractility, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA levels, and tumour growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) mRNA levels. O(2)(-) was generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XO) and phenazine methosulphate (PMS)-NADH systems. XO activity was determined by measurement of uric acid production with xanthine as substrate.