Pregnancy may be a challenging period for the maternal systems and has been regarded as a stress test, as imperceptible/mild dysfunctions eventually present may be exacerbated during this period. The cardiovascular system is no exception, and several morphological and functional adaptations accompanying pregnancy have been described. However, long-term pregnancy-induced cardiac molecular alterations remain highly unexplored. The postpartum is marked by reverse remodeling of the pregnancy-induced cardiovascular adaptations, representing a possible critical period for assessing future maternal cardiovascular health. The current study explored the molecular and metabolic alterations in the cardiac tissue eight weeks after a physiological uncomplicated pregnancy. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a chow diet through pregnancy, lactation, and weaning and compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. Eight weeks postpartum, increased levels of the phosphorylated form of AMPKα (Thr172) and its ratio to total AMPKα indicated possible alterations in cardiac metabolic flexibility, accompanied by increased Pparα and Hif1α transcripts levels. Additionally, postpartum hearts exhibited higher mitochondrial ATP and NADH levels without major changes in mitochondrial respiratory function. Elevated Nrf2 levels in the cardiac tissue suggested potential implications for cardiac redox balance, further supported by increased levels or activity of proteins directly regulated by Nrf2. The findings herein reported suggest that at eight weeks postpartum, molecular alterations induced by pregnancy, especially regarding redox balance, are still observed in the mothers' heart. These alterations present at late postpartum may open new avenues to understand the different risk for cardiovascular complications development after normal pregnancies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167539 | DOI Listing |
Immunology
December 2024
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Autoreactive, aberrantly activated lymphocytes that target myelin antigens in the central nervous system (CNS) are primary drivers of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Proliferating cells including activated lymphocytes require deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) for DNA replication. dNTPs can be synthesised via the de novo pathway from precursors such as glucose and amino acids or the deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway from extracellular deoxyribonucleosides.
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Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
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December 2024
Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate Institute of Biomedicine and Biomedical Technology, National Chi Nan University, Puli, Taiwan.
Introduction: Chronic alcohol consumption and tobacco usage are major risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption lead to oxidative stress and the generation of reactive carbonyl species (RCS) which induce DNA damage and cell apoptosis. This phenomenon contributes to cell damage and carcinogenesis in various organs including ESCC.
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Department of neurology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China. Hubei Sizhen Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Introduction: The incidence of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) is complex which seriously threatens the life safety of patients. Neither its prevention nor its treatment has been successful so far. Proteins that bind to DNA and belong to the C2/H2 zinc finger family are known as Krüppel-like factors (KLFs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLuminescence
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Many industries use copper metal ions (Cu ions), and their salts are utilized as supplemental materials in both agriculture and medicine. Identifying and monitoring these Cu ions in biological and environmental specimens is crucial due to their association with several health issues. In this investigation, we have designed a simple quinoline-based receptor (E)-3-(((2,4-di-tert-butyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)-6-methoxyquinolin-2(1H)-one (QAP) containing imine functional groups to inspect its capability to identify metal ions in a semi-aqueous medium.
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