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- All Subjects: Mitochondria
- Creators: Gonzales, Rayna
- Creators: Angell, Charles A
Description
Morbid obesity is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. A major contributor to the pathogenesis of these diseases is impaired vasodilation resulting from elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). This is because certain ROS such as superoxide are raised with obesity and scavenge the endogenous vasorelaxant nitric oxide, resulting in hypertension. The objective of this study was to measure the ability of genistein to quench superoxide in the vasculature of ob/ob mice, an animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Genistein is an isoflavonic phytoestrogen naturally found in soy products. While genistein has documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is not known whether this protects the vasculature from oxidative stress. Genistein was hypothesized to reduce superoxide in arteries from female ob/ob mice. The superoxide indicator dihydroethidium (DHE) [2µL/mL HEPES buffer] was added to isolated aortae and mesenteric arteries from mice fed either a control (standard rodent chow containing 200-300 mg genistein/kg) or genistein-enriched (600mg genistein/kg rodent chow) diets for 4 weeks. Frozen tissues sections were collected onto glass microscope slides and examined using confocal microscopy. Contrary to the hypothesis, a diet containing twice the amount of genistein found in standard chow did not significantly reduce superoxide concentrations in aortae (p=0.287) or mesenteric arteries (p=0.352). Superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme that breaks down superoxide, was significantly upregulated in the genistein-enriched diet group (p=0.004), although this elevation did not promote the breakdown of superoxide. In addition, the inflammatory marker iNOS was not downregulated in the genistein-enriched diet group (p>0.05). The results indicate that high amounts of isoflavones, like genistein, may not exhibit the purported antioxidant effects in the vasculature of obese or diabetic subjects. Further studies examining arteries from ob/ob mice fed a genistein-free diet are needed to elucidate the true effects of genistein on oxidative stress.
ContributorsSimperova, Anna Marie (Co-author) / Al-Nakkash, Layla (Co-author) / Ricklefs, Kristin (Co-author) / Faust, James J. (Co-author) / Sweazea, Karen L. (Co-author) / Sweazea, Karen (Thesis director) / Gonzales, Rayna (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
A prominent aspect of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the presence of neuroinflammation is mediated by the activation of microglial cells, which are the immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that express an array of cytokines that may promote an inflammatory response. The main cytokines produced are: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The presence of these cytokines in the CNS may lead to neuronal death, to the production of toxic chemicals (such as nitric oxide), and to the generation of amyloid beta (a major pathological feature of AD). Previous studies have shown that modulation of the inflammatory response in the nervous system can potentially prevent and/or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. Therefore, it is important to identify the process that induces CNS inflammation. For example, mitochondrial lysates have been found to produce an inflammatory response due to their ability to stimulate TNF-, Aβ, and APP mRNA [10]. Interestingly, extracellular mitochondria have been detected in the brain due to neurons degrading old mitochondria extracellularly. Therefore, we set out to study the effect of whole mitochondria isolated by differential centrifugation from human neuroblastoma cells (BE(2)-M17 cells) on the neuroinflammatory response in a human microglia model (THP-1 cells). Despite our best efforts, in the end it was unclear whether the mitochondrial fraction or other cellular components induced the inflammatory response we observed. Thus, further work with an improved mitochondrial isolation method should be carried out to address this issue.
ContributorsStokes, Laura Jean (Author) / DeCourt, Boris (Thesis director) / Sweazea, Karen (Committee member) / Gonzales, Rayna (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Mitochondria produce the majority portion of ATP required in eukaryotic cells. ATP is generated through a process known as oxidative phosphorylation, through an pathway consisting five multi subunit proteins (complex I-IV and ATP synthase), embedded inside the mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction increases reactive oxygen species in the cell and causes several serious disorders. Described herein are the synthesis of antioxidant molecules to reduce the effects in an already dysfunctional system. Also described is the study of the mitochondrial electron transport chain to understand the mechanism of action of a library of antioxidants. Illustrated in chapter 1 is the general history of research on mitochondrial dysfunction and reported ways to ameliorate them. Chapter 2 describes the design and synthesis of a series of compounds closely resembling the redox-active quinone core of the natural product geldanamycin. Geldanamycin has been reported to confer cytoprotection to FRDA lymphocytes in a dose dependent manner under conditions of induced oxidative stress. A library of rationally designed derivatives has been synthesized as a part of our pursuit of a better neuroprotective drug. Chapter 3 describes the design and synthesis of a library of pyrimidinol analogues. Compounds of this type have demonstrated the ability to quench reactive oxygen species and sustain mitochondrial membrane potential. Described herein are our efforts to increase their metabolic stability and total ATP production. It is crucial to understand the nature of interaction between a potential drug molecule and the mitochondrial electron transport chain to enable the design and synthesis a better therapeutic candidates. Chapter 4 describes a part of the enzymatic
binding studies between a molecular library synthesized in our laboratory and the mitochondrial electron transport chain using sub mitochondrial particles (SMP).
binding studies between a molecular library synthesized in our laboratory and the mitochondrial electron transport chain using sub mitochondrial particles (SMP).
ContributorsDey, Sriloy (Author) / Hecht, Sidney M. (Thesis advisor) / Angell, Charles A (Committee member) / Gould, Ian (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015