Reactive Oxygen Molecules Research Articles

Investigation of heat stress responses and adaptation mechanisms by integrative metabolome and transcriptome analysis in tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

Extreme high temperature has deleterious impact on the yield and quality of tea production, which has aroused the attention of growers and breeders. However, the mechanisms by which tea plant varieties respond to extreme environmental heat is not clear. In this study, we analyzed physiological indices, metabolites and transcriptome differences in three different heat-tolerant tea plant F1 hybrid progenies. Results showed that the antioxidant enzyme activity, proline, and malondialdehyde were significantly decreased in heat-sensitive 'FWS' variety, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen molecules such as H2O2 and O2- was remarkably increased during heat stress. Metabolomic analysis was used to investigate the metabolite accumulation pattern of different varieties in response to heat stress. The result showed that a total of 810 metabolites were identified and more than 300 metabolites were differentially accumulated. Transcriptional profiling of three tea varieties found that such genes encoding proteins with chaperon domains were preferentially expressed in heat-tolerant varieties under heat stress, including universal stress protein (USP32, USP-like), chaperonin-like protein 2 (CLP2), small heat shock protein (HSP18.1), and late embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA5). Combining metabolomic with transcriptomic analyses discovered that the flavonoids biosynthesis pathway was affected by heat stress and most flavonols were up-regulated in heat-tolerant varieties, which owe to the preferential expression of key FLS genes controlling flavonol biosynthesis. Take together, molecular chaperons, or chaperon-like proteins, flavonols accumulation collaboratively contributed to the heat stress adaptation in tea plant. The present study elucidated the differences in metabolite accumulation and gene expression patterns among three different heat-tolerant tea varieties under extreme ambient high temperatures, which helps to reveal the regulatory mechanisms of tea plant adaptation to heat stress, and provides a reference for the breeding of heat-tolerant tea plant varieties.

Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis: A Potential New Peripheral Biomarker in Adolescent Depression.

Thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH), one of the most important antioxidants, is involved in the non-enzymatic removal of reactive oxygen molecules in the body and is one of the many methods to measure the level of oxidative stress (OS). In the present study, TDH is investigated in adolescent depression, and its relationship to clinical variables is examined. Thirty-two (50.0%) patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and without psychotropic drug use and 32 (50.0%) healthy controls were included in the present study. The subjects MDD and control groups were between 13 and 18 years old. Participants completed the DSM-5 Level-2 scales for depression and irritability. A colorimetric method proposed by Erel and Neselioglu was used to analyze the TDH parameters of serum samples. Biochemical analyses of samples from the MDD and control groups showed significant differences between the groups in native thiol (SH) levels (P = .002), disulfide (SS) levels (P = .021), disulfide/total thiol (SS/ToSH) (P = .009), and disulfide/native thiol (SS/SH) (P = .003) levels. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic showed that the area under the curve values with "acceptable discrimination potential" for the TDH parameters were significantly able to discriminate individuals with MDD from healthy controls. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis, one of the OS parameters, was found to be impaired in adolescents with depression. Our results suggest that TDH may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of adolescent MDD and that TDH may be a novel approach to assess OS in adolescent depression.

Evaluation of Salivary Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Ascorbic Acid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern associated with systemic as well as oral complications. The preventive antioxidants found in saliva naturally reduce the damaging effects of reactive oxygen molecules. Any disruption to the regular functioning of these antioxidants may lead to oxidative stress, which could boost an individual's vulnerability to oral diseases. Diabetes patients are vulnerable to various dental complications, such as oral mucosal disorders, dental caries, dry mouth, and periodontal disease. This study aimed to assess the salivary butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid (AA) levels in patients with controlled and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study included samples from patients aged 45-65. Group I consisted of 20 controlled diabetic patients, and Group II consisted of 20 uncontrolled diabetic patients. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from both groups, and laboratory analysis was done. Salivary BHTand AAlevels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometric assay. Salivary butylated hydroxytoluene levels were found to be higher in the uncontrolled diabetic group than in the controlled diabetic group, and salivary AA levels were found to be higher in the controlled diabetic group than in the uncontrolled diabetic group. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) values of butylated hydroxytoluene among controlled and uncontrolled diabetic patients were 2.98 ± 0.12 and 2.99 ± 0.11 absorbance units, respectively. The mean ± SD value of AA in the controlled group was found to be 2.99 ± 0.15 absorbance units, and the mean ± SD value of AA in the uncontrolled group was 2.64 ± 0.96 absorbance units. However, it has been found that there is no statistically significant difference between salivary BHT and AA levels among controlled and uncontrolled diabetics, with p-values of 0.867 and 0.419, respectively. Values of salivary biochemical markers were distinctly different between controlled and uncontrolled diabetic groups. However,to establish a definite role of salivary BHT and AA levels as biomarkers in managing and monitoring type 2 diabetes, future studies are required, even though the trends exhibit possible alterations in biomarkers.

Regulation of reactive oxygen molecules in pakchoi by histone acetylation modifications under Cd stress.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential modulators of epigenetic modifications under abiotic stress. However, the mutual regulation mechanism of the two under cadmium (Cd) stress is unclear. In this work, we investigated this issue using Cd-stressed pakchoi seedlings treated with six epi-modification inhibitors (5-AC, RG108, TSA, CUDC101, AT13148, and H89) as experimental materials. The experimental data showed that Cd stress caused ROS accumulation and chromatin decondensation. Addition of low concentrations of epi-modification inhibitors increased histone acetylation modification levels, and effectively attenuated cell cycle arrest and DNA damage caused by Cd-induced ROS accumulation, where histone acetylation modification levels were co-regulated by histone acetyltransferase and deacetyltransferase gene transcription. Moreover, the addition of the antioxidant Thi enhanced this mitigating effect. Also, TSA addition at high concentrations could also increase Cd-induced ROS accumulation. Based on this, we propose that the ROS molecular pathway may be related to epigenetic regulation, and chromatin modification may affect ROS accumulation by regulating gene expression, providing a new perspective for studying the regulatory mechanism of epigenetic modification under abiotic stress.

Novel Platinum(IV) complexes intervene oxaliplatin resistance in colon cancer via inducing ferroptosis and apoptosis

Platinum-based chemotherapeutics are widely used for cancer treatment but are frequently limited because of dosage-dependent side effects and drug resistance. To attenuate these drawbacks, a series of novel platinum(IV) prodrugs (15a–18c) were synthesized and evaluated for anti-cancer activity. Among them, 17a demonstrated superior anti-proliferative activity compared with oxaliplatin (OXA) in the cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cell line A549/CDDP and OXA-resistant colon cancer cell line HCT-116/OXA but showed a lower cytotoxic effect toward human normal cell lines HUVEC and L02. Mechanistic investigations suggested that 17a efficiently enhanced intracellular platinum accumulation, induced DNA damage, disturbed the homeostasis of intracellular reactive oxygen molecules and mitochondrial membrane potential, and thereby activated the mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis pathway. Moreover, 17a significantly induced ferroptosis in HCT-116/OXA via triggering the accumulation of lipid peroxides, disrupting iron homeostasis, and inhibiting solute carrier family 7 member 11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 axial pathway transduction by inhibiting the expression of the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2. Moreover, 17a exerted remarkable in vivo antitumor efficacy in the HCT-116/OXA xenograft models but showed attenuated toxicity. These results indicated that these novel platinum(IV) complexes provided an alternative strategy to develop novel platinum-based antineoplastic agents for cancer treatment.

Evaluation of oxidative stress cycle in healthy and inflamed dental pulp tissue: a laboratory investigation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress cycle consisting of reactive oxygen molecules (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in caries-related pulp inflammation. Fifty-four pulp tissue samples were collected from healthy donors with the diagnosis of reversible pulpitis, symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, and healthy pulp. Twelve pulp samples from each group were homogenized and total protein, ROS, GSH, and GST were measured by spectrophotometer. The remaining 6 samples from each group were prepared for paraffin block and used for the histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of oxidative stress parameters and TUNEL labeling. Data were analyzed statistically. The results revealed that total protein levels significantly decreased; however, ROS levels increased in both reversible and irreversible pulpitis compared to the healthy pulp (p < 0.01). Also, as inflammation increases, GST enzyme levels decrease while GSH levels increase significantly (p < 0.05). It was found that the number of TUNEL (+) cells was increased in irreversible pulpitis samples compared to healthy and reversible pulpitis groups (p < 0.05). GSTP1 and GSH immunoreactivity were also observed in irreversible pulpitis samples. It has been revealed that caries-related inflammation alters the oxidative stress cycle in dental pulp tissue. The increase in GSH levels in the inflamed dental pulp due to the increase in ROS levels may improve the defensive ability of the dental pulp. There is a relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation. Control of excessive oxidative stress in pulpitis can stimulate reparative and regenerative processes. The present findings may provide an overview of the management of oxidative stress in cases with pulpitis during regenerative treatments.

Glutathione-related antioxidant defence, DNA damage, and DNA repair in patients suffering from post-COVID conditions.

Post-COVID conditions are defined as the continuation of the symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 3 months after the initial Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, with no other explanation. Post-COVID conditions are seen among 30%-60% of patients with asymptomatic or mild forms of COVID-19. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of post-COVID conditions are not known. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, activation of the immune system leads to increased production of reactive oxygen molecules, depleted antioxidant reserve, and finally occurrence of oxidative stress. In oxidative stress conditions, DNA damage increases and DNA repair systems impair. In this study, glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level, basal, induced, and post-repair DNA damage were investigated in individuals suffering from post-COVID conditions. In the red blood cells, GSH levels and GPx activities were measured with a spectrophotometric assay and a commercial kit. Basal, in vitro H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)-induced, and post-repair DNA damage (DNA damage after a repair incubation following H2O2-treatment, in vitro) were determined in lymphocytes by the comet assay. The urinary 8-OHdG levels were measured by using a commercial ELISA kit. No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups for GSH level, GPx activity, and basal and H2O2-induced DNA damage. Post-repair DNA damage was found to be higher in the patient group than those in the control group. Urinary 8-OHdG level was lower in the patient group compared to the control group. In the control group, GSH level and post-repair DNA damage were higher in the vaccinated individuals. In conclusion, oxidative stress formed due to the immune response against SARS-COV-2 may impair DNA repair mechanisms. Defective DNA repair may be an underlying pathological mechanism of post-COVID conditions.

Journal Digest: CBT With Cardiac Rehab, PMDD Neurochemistry, and More

Journal Digest: CBT With Cardiac Rehab, PMDD Neurochemistry, and More

Coumarin‐based Chemosensors for Metal Ions Detection

AbstractCoumarins, due to their intense and persistent emission of fluorescence, structural flexibility, and excellent biocompatibility, have become a popular choice in developing new fluorescent chemosensors. Coumarins have long been used for sensing anions, cations, chemically reactive nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur‐containing species, and small molecules. They have also been shown to have applicability in imaging, biology, and medical research. Due to the widespread use and excellent biological activity, hundreds of such coumarin motifs have either been isolated from nature or synthesized in a laboratory. This review covers all the developments pertaining to the synthesis and use of coumarin for sensing a variety of metal ions (alkali, alkaline earth, transition, heavy, and noble metal ions). This comprehensive review includes an overview of the coumarin‐based chemosensor‘s pH limit, detection limit, and binding mode. A brief explanation of the stoichiometric ratio between metal and chemosensor moiety and the applicability of each chemosensor is also given.

Detrimental Effects of Lipid Peroxidation in Type 2 Diabetes: Exploring the Neutralizing Influence of Antioxidants.

Lipid peroxidation, including its prominent byproducts such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), has long been linked with worsened metabolic health in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In fact, patients with T2D already display increased levels of lipids in circulation, including low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides, which are easily attacked by reactive oxygen molecules to give rise to lipid peroxidation. This process severely depletes intracellular antioxidants to cause excess generation of oxidative stress. This consequence mainly drives poor glycemic control and metabolic complications that are implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. The current review explores the pathological relevance of elevated lipid peroxidation products in T2D, especially highlighting their potential role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in disease severity. In addition, we briefly explain the implication of some prominent antioxidant enzymes/factors involved in the blockade of lipid peroxidation, including termination reactions that involve the effect of antioxidants, such as catalase, coenzyme Q10, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as vitamins C and E.

Novel indole–chalcone platinum(IV) complexes as tubulin polymerization inhibitors to overcome oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer

In order to reverse drug resistance and reduce side effects of oxaliplatin (OXA) in colon cancer (CRC) treatment, six platinum(IV) complexes modified with indole–chalcone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against various CRC cell lines. Among them, indole–chalcone oxaliplatin(IV)-propanoate (ICplatin-18), which obtained a two-methylene linker and was derived from oxaliplatin(IV), exhibited the most parental anticancer activity compared with either monotherapy or combination against parent and OXA-resistant HCT-116 (HCT-116/OXA) cells, obtained good selectivity toward normal cell line (L02 and HUEVC), and significantly inhibited migration of HCT-116 cells. This performance may be associated to the dramatic increase in intracellular accumulation and enhancement of DNA damage. Further mechanistic studies indicated that ICplatin-18 significantly inhibited tubulin polymerization, elevated accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen molecule, and activated mitochondrial apoptotic.

Inflammaging and Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease particularly in subjects over 65years of age worldwide. While in the past it was considered a mere consequence of cartilage degradation leading to anatomical and functional joint impairment, in recent decades, there has been a more dynamic view with the synovium, the cartilage, and the subchondral bone producing inflammatory mediators which ultimately lead to cartilage damage. Inflammaging is defined as a chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammation state driven by endogenous signals in the absence of infections, occurring with aging. This chronic status is linked to the production of reactive oxygen species and molecules involved in the development of age-related disease such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammaging contributes to osteoarthritis development where both the innate and the adaptive immune response are involved. Elevated systemic and local inflammatory cytokines and senescent molecules promote cartilage degradation, and antigens derived from damaged joints further trigger inflammation through inflammasome activation. B and T lymphocyte populations also change with inflammaging and OA, with reduced regulatory functions, thus implicating self-reactivity as an additional mechanism of joint damage. The discovery of the underlying pathogenic pathways may help to identify potential therapeutic targets for the management or the prevention of osteoarthritis. We will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current literature on the role of inflammaging in osteoarthritis and discuss the emerging therapeutic strategies.

Mediterranean Diet Affects Blood Circulating Lipid-Soluble Micronutrients and Inflammatory Biomarkers in a Cohort of Breast Cancer Survivors: Results from the SETA Study

Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health concern and substantial research has shown that adhering to a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD), may prevent the onset of cancer and BC relapses. This study aims at specifically investigating the association of MD with circulating dietary-related biomarkers in a cohort of BC survivors. Eighty patients (mean age of 54.9 ± 10.6) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of BC who had not received any pharmacological or radiotherapy treatment for at least two months were enrolled. Fasting serum lipid-soluble vitamins (retinol, tocopherol), plant pigments (β-carotene, lutein + zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, lycopene), inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (ceruloplasmin; haptoglobin; paraoxonases; reactive oxygen molecule; thiol groups, Ferric reducing antioxidant power), and cardiometabolic parameters (body mass index (BMI); glucose; insulin; HOMA-IR; total cholesterol; LDL-cholesterol; HDL-cholesterol; triglycerides) were analyzed. Adherence to the MD was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected for the evaluation of selected biomarkers. MDS resulted positively correlated with β-carotene (r 0.331; p < 0.01) and lycopene (r 0.274; p < 0.05) and negatively with retinol (r −0.346; p < 0.05). Among the investigated inflammatory biomarkers, MDS was only correlated with antioxidant capacity (r 0.256; p < 0.05), while none of the investigated cardiometabolic parameters were significantly correlated with this index. The strong significant correlation between β-carotene and MDS encourages us to consider this pro-vitamin as a putative biomarker to take into account for evaluating the adherence to the MD.

Redox environment metabolomic evaluation (REME) of the heart after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is closely related to oxidative stress. However, the redox environment of the heart has not been evaluated thoroughly after MIRI, which limits precise redox intervention. In this study, we developed the redox environment metabolomic evaluation (REME) method to analyze the redox metabolites of the heart after MIRI. Based on the targeted metabolomics strategy, we established a detection panel for 22 redox-related molecules, including the major redox couples nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH/NADP+), and glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG), reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-related molecules, and some lipid peroxidation products. The high sensitivity and specificity of the method make it suitable for evaluating the endogenous redox environment. The REME method showed that the heart tissue in a MIRI mouse model had a different redox profile from that in the control group. Different redox species changed in different ways. The ratios of GSSG/GSH and NADP+/NADPH increased, but the levels of both NAD+ and NADH decreased in the risk area of the infarcted heart after reperfusion. In addition, some reactive nitrogen species-related metabolites (tetrahydrobiopterin, arginine, and S-nitrosoglutathione) decreased and some lipid peroxides (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal, and benzaldehyde) increased. The redox metabolites GSH, GSSG, NADPH, NAD+, S-nitrosoglutathione, arginine, and tetrahydrobiopterin had a positive correlation with the ejection fraction and a negative correlation with the level of lactate dehydrogenase in plasma. In summary, we achieved a comprehensive, systemic understanding of the changes in the redox environment after MIRI. Our REME method could be used to evaluate the redox environment in other processes.

Value of serum thiol/disulphide in chronic prostatitis

Background/Aim: Thiols are an important part of the antioxidant system which destroy reactive oxygen molecules, especially in inflammatory reactions. Maneuvers expressing the prostate fluid required for the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis are not practical and are rarely used in clinical practice. We aimed to compare the level of native thiol/disulphide as a supportive biomarker in patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis. Materials and methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with chronic prostatitis and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this prospective-case control study. Both groups were compared in terms of native thiol disulphide homeostasis, IPSS, QoL and PSA levels. Results: In the chronic prostatitis group, the native thiol level was significantly lower (P=0.043), the %disulfide/natural thiol was higher (P=0.037), the international prostate symptom score was higher (P=0.006), the quality of life was higher (P=0.023) and the maximum flow rate was lower (P=0.009) compared to the healthy volunteers. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the native thiol (SH) level in patients with chronic prostatitis was low and their disulphide level was high; therefore, we think that the level of native thiol/total thiol may assist in supporting the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.

Connection of reactive oxygen species as an essential actor for the mechanism of phenomena; ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning: Come to age or ripening?

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), in 1986, and then ischemic postconditioning (IPoC), in 2003, were determined and lots of studies on the many organs were performed about the preventive effects of these strong endogenous mechanisms on the relevant tissues against ischemia-reperfusion and their protective impressions have been emphasized by many authorities up to date. Reactive oxygen molecules are immensely active molecules, originating from molecular oxygen, playing a principal role in intracellular signalization, aging, and various pathologic conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide are known in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. In the pathogenesis of cellular and tissue injury in I/R, the significant output of ROS in the initial phase of reperfusion, particularly between the 1st and 7th min, has been propounded as being an essential and crucial main factor for the phenomena. Even though a great deal of mechanisms has been asserted for IPC and IPoC, the distinct shielder mechanism(s) was/were not clearly proved yet. However, occupying a significant place of ROS among these forecasted mechanisms has been advocated up to date.

CIPLUKAN (PHYSALIS ANGULATA LINN.) EXTRACT AS A NATURAL ADJUVANT REMEDIES FOR SCLERODERMA

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue autoimmune disorder.1 Its prevalence in Indonesia is not well recorded but scleroderma is listed as the third most common disease in rheumatology outpatient clinic in Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.2,3 Scleroderma is characterized by skin fibrosis, small vessel vasculopathy, and immune system abnormality. The cutaneous lesion of scleroderma is presenting with excessive collagen type-1 production and deposition, as well as exaggerated inflammatory process. There is no specific diagnosis test is available, but in most cases, there are some laboratory findings which support the diagnosis of scleroderma, such as elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), B lymphocyte stimulator (BAFF), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Soluble Cd40 Ligand (sCD40L), and Procollagen Type-1 N-Terminal Propeptide (P1NP).3-6&#x0D; The treatment of this autoimmune disease remains a challenge for clinicians. The current treatment for scleroderma is expensive and some side effects as well as drug resistance are reported. Some new medicines are still under research, not accessible, and too expensive for most Indonesian communities. Hence, new therapeutic options are constantly sought.7 &#x0D; Ciplukan herb (Physalis angulate Linn) is a medicinal plant which grows in Indonesia. It has been known for its efficacy and safety as long-term anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenesis agent.7 Dewi et al conducted a double –blind, randomized clinical trial using ciplukan herb extract as an adjuvant treatment for scleroderma. The clinical trial was performed in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia for 2 years. There are 59 scleroderma patients, age 15-60 years old, had stable treatment for at least 3 months, who randomly divided into treatment group (29 people) and control group (30 people). The treatment group received 250 mg ciplukan herb extract three times a day and the control group received 250 mg amylum three times a day for 12 weeks. A 35,9% skin thickness reduction was found in treatment group. It is greater than control group which only gained 6,3% reduction (p

P2X7 Receptors Amplify CNS Damage in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

ATP is a (co)transmitter and signaling molecule in the CNS. It acts at a multitude of ligand-gated cationic channels termed P2X to induce rapid depolarization of the cell membrane. Within this receptor-channel family, the P2X7 receptor (R) allows the transmembrane fluxes of Na+, Ca2+, and K+, but also allows the slow permeation of larger organic molecules. This is supposed to cause necrosis by excessive Ca2+ influx, as well as depletion of intracellular ions and metabolites. Cell death may also occur by apoptosis due to the activation of the caspase enzymatic cascade. Because P2X7Rs are localized in the CNS preferentially on microglia, but also at a lower density on neuroglia (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes) the stimulation of this receptor leads to the release of neurodegeneration-inducing bioactive molecules such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, proteases, reactive oxygen and nitrogen molecules, and the excitotoxic glutamate/ATP. Various neurodegenerative reactions of the brain/spinal cord following acute harmful events (mechanical CNS damage, ischemia, status epilepticus) or chronic neurodegenerative diseases (neuropathic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) lead to a massive release of ATP via the leaky plasma membrane of neural tissue. This causes cellular damage superimposed on the original consequences of neurodegeneration. Hence, blood-brain-barrier permeable pharmacological antagonists of P2X7Rs with excellent bioavailability are possible therapeutic agents for these diseases. The aim of this review article is to summarize our present state of knowledge on the involvement of P2X7R-mediated events in neurodegenerative illnesses endangering especially the life quality and duration of the aged human population.

Mechanisms formation of systemic acquired resistance in spring barley plants (&lt;i&gt;Hordeum vulgare&lt;/i&gt; L.) during infection by the pathway of dark brown spot

The physiological and biochemical responses in spring barley plants to infection with a hemibiotrophic phytopathogenic fungus B. sorokiniana was studied. It was found that these responses of the plant organism are regulated by signaling pathways with the participation of the salicylic acid mediator (SA) and are associated with oxidative stress-localized accumulation of reactive oxygen molecules (ROS) in infected cells and/or neighboring cells. The activation of the microsomal fraction of NADPH oxidase isolated from barley leaves on days 1 and 3 after fungal infection was revealed, which is known to be responsible for the rapid formation of ROS in plant cells under the influence of fungal infection. At the same time, an increase in the activity of the peroxidase enzyme detoxifying ROS, in particular Н 2 О 2 , was observed in relation to the control (uninfected plants) by 1.6 and 2.2 times on the 1st and 3rd day after exposure, respectively. The inclusion of antioxidant defense mechanisms led to the stabilization of lipid peroxidation processes several days after infection. A reliable increase in the total content of water-soluble phenolic substances in the infected plant tissues was shown to have a protective effect on plants under stress, as well as an increase in the free pool of endogenous SA by 9 and 30 % during the first 24 hours and the next 3 days after infection, respectively. The data obtained indicate that endogenous S А is involved in the responses to infection of B. sorokiniana barley seedlings and is a necessary factor for the activation of SAR (systemic acquired resistance), which manifests itself in the accumulation of free S А and a decrease in its conjugated form in response to infection.

Oilseed crop sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as a source of food: Nutritional and health benefits.

The use of biofertilizers in developing environmentally friendly agriculture as an alternative to chemical‐based fertilizers in enhancing food production is promising in sustainable agriculture for the improvement in the yield of some commercial crops such as sunflowers and other oilseed crops in terms of quality and quantity. Sunflower is an important oilseed crop native to South America and currently cultivated throughout the world. Generally, the sunflower is considered important based on its nutritional and medicinal value. Due to its beneficial health effects, sunflower has been recognized as functional foods or nutraceutical, although not yet fully harnessed. Sunflower contains mineral elements and phytochemicals such as dietary fiber, manganese, vitamins, tocopherols, phytosterols, triterpene glycosides, α‐tocopherol, glutathione reductase, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, peptides, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins; and these compounds contribute to their functional and nutraceutical development. The extract from sunflower is known to be a potential source of antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidants agents that protect human cells against harmful reactive oxygen molecules and pathogenic microorganisms. Also, the pharmacological survey on sunflower had revealed its curative power to different kinds of diseases. The health benefits of sunflower include blood pressure and diabetic control, skin protection, and lowering cholesterol and other functions. This review is written with appropriate referencing to previously published work and provides updated information regarding the new method of organic farming for sunflower production, nutritional and health benefits, and its by‐products as human diet and livestock feed. Also, the constraints of sunflower production are elucidated.