Increased oxidative stress (OS) and the disruption of the equilibrium between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants are key molecular features of unhealthy aging. OS results in the formation of oxidative posttranslational modifications (PTMs), some of which involve cysteine (Cys) residues in aging proteomes, and specifically, the formation of trioxidized Cys (t-Cys), which leads to permanent protein damage. Recent findings in rodents have uncovered that irregular regulation of t-Cys residues in the aging proteome disrupts homeostatic phosphorylation signaling, resulting in alterations to proteins that are analogous to those caused by phosphorylated serine (p-Ser) residues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute a sophisticated molecular exchange mechanism highly regarded for their potential as a next-generation platform for compound delivery. However, identifying sustainable and biologically safe sources of EVs remains a challenge. This work explores the emergence of novel sources of plant and bacterial-based EVs, such as those obtained from food industry by-products, known as BP-EVs, and their potential to be used as safer and biocompatible nanocarriers, addressing some of the current challenges of the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdventure Therapy (AT) is a therapeutic intervention utilizing the natural environment and adventure activities as tools for psychotherapeutic interventions. It has been demonstrated to be appropriate for the intervention of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aims to evaluate the response to AT treatment compared with the response to treatment as usual (TAU), based on cognitive behavioural therapy, in the short and long term, assessing clinical, psychosocial, and functional outcomes; quality of life; and physical health levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny membranous structures that mediate intercellular communication. The role(s) of these vesicles have been widely investigated in the context of neurological diseases; however, their potential implications in the neuropathology subjacent to human psychiatric disorders remain mostly unknown. Here, by using next-generation discovery-driven proteomics, we investigate the potential role(s) of brain EVs (bEVs) in schizophrenia (SZ) by analyzing these vesicles from the three post-mortem anatomical brain regions: the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC), and caudate (CAU).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAging is the primary risk factor for the development of numerous human chronic diseases. On a molecular level, it significantly impacts the regulation of protein modifications, leading to the accumulation of degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) such as aberrant serine phosphorylation (p-Ser) and trioxidized cysteine (t-Cys) within the proteome. The altered p-Ser is linked to abnormal cell signaling, while the accumulation of t-Cys is associated with chronic diseases induced by oxidative stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVascular dysfunction underlies the onset and progression of many life-threatening diseases, highlighting the need for improved understanding of its molecular basis. Here, we present differential systemic decellularization in vivo (DISDIVO), a protocol that enables systemic and independent study of the molecular changes in each vasculature layer in murine models of disease. We describe steps for anesthesia, perfusion surgery, and exsanguination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMinimally invasive prognostic markers of inflammation and dyslipidemia in individuals with a risk of psychosis, also called "at-risk mental state" (ARMS), or in the first episode of psychosis (FEP) are of utmost clinical importance to prevent cardiovascular disorders. We analyzed the plasma concentration of inflammation-linked glycoproteins (Glycs) and lipoprotein subclasses by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) in a single acquisition. Study participants were healthy controls (HCs, N = 67) and patients with ARMS ( = 58), FEP ( = 110), or early psychosis diagnosis with ≥2 episodes (critical period (CP), = 53).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is caused by NOTCH3 mutations. Typical CADASIL is characterised by subcortical ischemic strokes due to severe arteriopathy and fibrotic thickening of small arteries. Arteriolar vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the key target in CADASIL, but the potential mechanisms involved in their degeneration are still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as key players in numerous physiological functions. These vesicles alter their compositions attuned to the health and disease states of the organism. In men, significant changes in the proteomic composition(s) of seminal plasma EVs (sEVs) have already been found to be related to infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImbalances of the oral microbiota and dysbiosis have traditionally been linked to the occurrence of teeth and oral diseases. However, recent findings indicate that this microbiota exerts relevant influence in systemic health. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiota is implicated in the apparition and progression of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and other major human diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising weapon to combat obesity and metabolic disease. BAT is thermogenic and consumes substantial amounts of glucose and fatty acids as fuel for thermogenesis and energy expenditure. To study BAT function in large human longitudinal cohorts, safe and precise detection methodologies are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrit Rev Food Sci Nutr
September 2023
Substances with modulatory capabilities on certain aspects of human cognition have been revered as nootropics from the dawn of time. The plant kingdom provides most of the currently available nootropics of natural origin. Here, in this systematic review, we aim to provide state-of-the-art information regarding proven and unproven effects of plant-derived nootropics (PDNs) on human cognition in conditions of health and disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Inflammation affecting whole organism vascular networks plays a central role in the progression and establishment of several human diseases, including Gram-negative sepsis. Although the molecular mechanisms that control inflammation of specific vascular beds have been partially defined, knowledge lacks on the impact of these on the molecular dynamics of whole organism vascular beds. In this study, we have generated an in vivo model by coupling administration of lipopolysaccharide with stable isotope labeling in mammals to mimic vascular beds inflammation in Gram-negative sepsis and to evaluate its effects on the proteome molecular dynamics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The contributions of brain intercellular communication mechanisms, specifically extracellular vesicles (EV), to the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain poorly understood.
Methods: Here, we investigated the role(s) of brain EV in the progressive course of AD through unbiased proteome-wide analyses of temporal lobe-derived EV and proteome-label quantitation of complementary remaining brain portions. Furthermore, relevant proteins identified were further screened by multiple reaction monitoring.
Aging can have profound effects on the mammalian brain leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. The brain has exceptionally high-energy requirements and is particularly susceptible to damage within its bioenergetic pathways. Here, we asked how the bioenergetic proteome of the murine brain changed with age and how this might affect brain function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSnacking has traditionally been associated with consumption of foods rich in fats and carbohydrates. However, new dietary trends switched to consumption of protein-rich foods. This study investigates the impact of food processing on the cryptome of one of the most widely consumed meat snacks, beef jerky.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAging influences the pathogenesis and progression of several major diseases affecting both the cardiovascular system (CVS) and central nervous system (CNS). Defining the common molecular features that underpin these disorders in these crucial body systems will likely lead to increased quality of life and improved 'health-span' in the global aging population. Degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) have been strongly implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of several age-related diseases affecting the CVS and CNS, including atherosclerosis, heart disease, dementia syndromes, and stroke.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVascular factors that reduce blood flow to the brain are involved in apparition and progression of dementia. We hypothesized that cerebral hypoperfusion (CH) might alter the molecular compositions of brain intercellular communication mechanisms while affecting the neurovascular unit in preclinical and clinical human dementias. To test that hypothesis, mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid stenosis (BCAS) and the molecular compositions of brain-derived and circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
October 2018
Objective- Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a key component of several major human diseases, but the molecular basis of this complex disorder has been difficult to determine in vivo. Previous attempts to identify key mediators of vascular endothelial dysfunction in experimental models have been limited by the lack of suitable methods for system-wide analyses of vascular bed biology. Here, we aimed to develop a novel method for investigating vascular endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis that enables system-wide analyses of molecular interactions between endothelial glycocalyx, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells in murine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiological research often requires the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to solubilize protein samples; however, this detergent is not compatible with direct mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Here, we report an online high-throughput proteomics method that permits standard in-solution digestion of SDS-containing samples followed by direct liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis using weak cation-exchange chromatography (WCX). This approach, called the online removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate (Online reSDS), exploits the properties of WCX in a highly organic and mildly acidic medium to retain positively charged peptides by both hydrophilic interaction and electrostatic attraction while simultaneously repelling negative SDS molecules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Brain degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) are associated with the apparition and progression of dementia, and at the same time, Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease (AD + CVD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in the elder population. Thus, understanding the role(s) of brain DPMs in this dementia subtype may provide novel insight on the disease pathogenesis and may aid on the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Two essential DPMs known to promote inflammation in several human diseases are the ureido DPMs (uDPMs) arginine citrullination and lysine carbamylation, although they have distinct enzymatic and non-enzymatic origins, respectively.
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