Purpose:: We evaluated the efficacy of lycopene, a dietary carotenoid and potent antioxidant, against ocular inflammation and oxidative stress in an experimental uveitis model.
Methods:: Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a single subcutaneous injection of 200 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Induction of EIU was preceded by daily intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg lycopene for three consecutive days (Lycopene + LPS group) or equivolume vehicle (Vehicle + LPS group). A positive control group received 1 mg/kg dexamethasone pretreatment (DEX + LPS), and a negative control group received daily vehicle injection but no LPS (Vehicle Control). Twenty-four hours after LPS or final vehicle administration, eyes were enucleated, and aqueous humor was collected for measurement of the number of infiltrating cells, total protein concentration, and levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and oxidative stress markers. Inflammatory response severity was compared among groups clinically and histopathologically.
Results:: Infiltrating cell number, total protein concentration, and NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in the aqueous humor of Vehicle + LPS group rats compared to Vehicle Controls. Compared to the Vehicle + LPS group, lycopene pretreatment significantly reduced aqueous humor concentrations of oxidative stress markers, NO (0.29 ± 0.1 μM vs. 0.19 ± 0.1 μM, p=0.003), TNF-α (71.0 ± 22.3 ng/ml vs. 50.1 ± 2.1 ng/ml, p=0.043), and IL-6 (121.6 ± 3.0 pg/ml vs. 111.1 ± 5.6 pg/ml, p=0.008). Inflammatory score was also reduced (2.0 ± 0.0 vs. 0.4 ± 0.5, p=0.001). Lycopene reduced the infiltrating cell count and protein concentration, but differences did not reach significance. Most lycopene effects were equivalent to dexamethasone.
Conclusions:: Lycopene may aid in the clinical management of uveitis by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/0004-2749.20160102 | DOI Listing |
Biochem Cell Biol
January 2025
University of Victoria Faculty of Science, Biochemsitry and Microbiology, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada;
Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a chromatin-associated protein that remains enigmatic despite more than 30 years of research, primarily due to the ever-growing list of its molecular functions, and, consequently, its related pathologies. Loss of function MECP2 mutations cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT); in addition, dysregulation of MeCP2 expression and/or function are involved in numerous other pathologies, but the mechanisms of MeCP2 regulation are unclear. Advancing technologies and burgeoning mechanistic theories assist our understanding of the complexity of MeCP2 but may inadvertently cloud it if not rigorously tested.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Physiol
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rual Affairs/Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, China.
Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) is a tropical legume that exhibits considerable tolerance to manganese (Mn) toxicity, which severely constrains plant growth in acidic soils. To elucidate the Mn detoxification mechanisms in stylo, this study investigated the excess Mn-regulated metabolic profile of stylo roots and examined the role of metabolic enzymes in Mn tolerance. Excess Mn triggered oxidative stress in the two stylo genotypes tested.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Physiol
January 2025
Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Global climate change leads to the increased occurrence of environmental stress (including drought and heat stress) during the vegetative and reproductive stages of cereal crop development. Thus, more attention should be given to developing new cereal cultivars with improved tolerance to environmental stress. However, during the development of new stress-tolerant cereal cultivars, the balance between improved stress responses (which occur at the expense of growth) and plant yield needs to be maintained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Reprod
January 2025
The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Study Question: Is elevated plasma molybdenum level associated with increased risk for idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?
Summary Answer: Elevated plasma molybdenum level is associated with an increased risk of idiopathic POI through vascular endothelial injury and inhibition of granulosa cell proliferation.
What Is Known Already: Excessive molybdenum exposure has been associated with ovarian oxidative stress in animals but its role in the development of POI remains unknown.
Study Design, Size, Duration: Case-control study of 30 women with idiopathic POI and 31 controls enrolled from August 2018 to May 2019.
Langmuir
January 2025
Perm State University, 15 Bukirev strasse, Perm 614068, Russia.
Copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are used in different industries and agriculture, thus leading to their release to the environment, which raises concerns about their ecotoxicity and biosafety. The main toxicity mechanism of nanometals is oxidative stress as a result of the formation of reactive oxygen species caused by metal ions released from nanoparticles. Bacterial biofilms are more resistant to physical and chemical factors than are planktonic cells due to the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM), which performs a protective function.
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