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Background and Purpose: The haematopoietic activity of erythropoietin (EPO) is mediated by the classic EPO receptor (EpoR) homodimer, whereas tissue-protective effects are mediated by a heterocomplex between EpoR and the β-common receptor (βcR). Here, we investigated the effects of a novel, selective ligand of this heterocomplex - pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide (pHBSP) - in mice fed a diet enriched in sugars and saturated fats., Experimental Approach: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHS) for 22 weeks. pHBSP (30 μg·kg(-1) s.c.) was administered for the last 11 weeks. Biochemical assays, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations and Western blotting were performed on serum and target organs (liver, kidney and skeletal muscle)., Key Results: Mice fed with HFHS diet exhibited insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia, hepatic lipid accumulation and kidney dysfunction. In gastrocnemius muscle, HFHS impaired the insulin signalling pathway and reduced membrane translocation of glucose transporter type 4 and glycogen content. Treatment with pHBSP ameliorated renal function, reduced hepatic lipid deposition, and normalized serum glucose and lipid profiles. These effects were associated with an improvement in insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Diet-induced overproduction of the myokines IL-6 and fibroblast growth factor-21 were attenuated by pHBSP and, most importantly, pHBSP markedly enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle., Conclusions and Implications: Chronic treatment of mice with an EPO derivative, devoid of haematopoietic effects, improved metabolic abnormalities induced by a high-fat high-sucrose diet, by affecting several levels of the insulin signalling and inflammatory cascades within skeletal muscle, while enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis., (© 2014 The British Pharmacological Society.)

Background: Preconditioning protects against both liver and lung damage after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Xanthine and xanthine oxidase (XOD) may contribute to the development of hepatic I/R., Objective: To evaluate whether preconditioning could modulate the injurious effects of xanthine/XOD on the liver and lung after hepatic I/R., Methods: Hepatic I/R or preconditioning previous to I/R was induced in rats. Xanthine and xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase (XDH/XOD) in liver and plasma were measured. Hepatic injury and inflammatory response in the lung was evaluated., Results: Preconditioning reduced xanthine accumulation and conversion of XDH to XOD in liver during sustained ischemia. This could reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from XOD, and therefore, attenuate hepatic I/R injury. Inhibition of XOD prevented postischemic ROS generation and hepatic injury. Administration of xanthine and XOD to preconditioned rats led to hepatic MDA and transaminase levels similar to those found after hepatic I/R. Preconditioning, resulting in low circulating levels of xanthine and XOD activity, reduced neutrophil accumulation, oxidative stress, and microvascular disorders seen in lung after hepatic I/R. Inhibition of XOD attenuated the inflammatory damage in lung after hepatic I/R. Administration of xanthine and XOD abolished the benefits of preconditioning on lung damage., Conclusions: Preconditioning, by blocking the xanthine/XOD pathway for ROS generation, would confer protection against the liver and lung injuries induced by hepatic I/R.

Experimental acute intoxication by prooxidant haloalkanes produces marked stimulation of hepatic lipid peroxidation and cytolysis, which is followed by tissue regeneration. Our aim was to clarify the role of oxidative imbalance in the activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1), which is involved in tissue repair. Rats were poisoned with a very low concentration of carbon tetrachloride, given alone or in combination with another hepatotoxin, 1,2-dibromoethane, to provide varying extents of oxidative damage. The level of AP-1-DNA binding was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay on liver extracts, obtained from rats killed 6 h after poisoning. Stimulation of lipid peroxidation and AP-1 upregulation were already established when the hepatic damage due to carbon tetrachloride +/-1,2-dibromoethane was beginning to appear. Rat supplementation with the antioxidant vitamin E completely inhibited AP-1 upregulation, thus supporting a causative role of membrane lipid oxidation in the observed modulation of the transcription factor. Moreover, activation of Kupffer cells appears to be a crucial step in the increased AP-1 binding to DNA, the latter being largely prevented by gadolinium chloride, a macrophage-specific inhibitor.

In this article the spontaneous chemiluminescence and the steady-state concentration of hydrogen peroxide were determined in rat liver as indicators of oxidative stress in the tissue. Hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were also measured to evaluate antioxidant defenses and serum activity of lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. Mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial respiratory control ratio were measured as indicators of cell and mitochondrial damage. Xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase activities were determined as a possible source of oxyradicals. No significant changes were observed after 10 or 30 min of vena cava occlusion in any of the measured parameters. In contrast, 10 min of occlusion followed by 10 min of reperfusion increased chemiluminescence (from 18 +/- 3 to 32 +/- 5 cps/cm2), hydrogen peroxide (from 0.10 +/- 0.01 to 0.17 +/- 0.01 mumol/L), lactate dehydrogenase (from 80 +/- 2 to 330 +/- 30 U/L), and aspartate aminotransferase (from 42 +/- 2 to 100 +/- 10 U/L). Liver reperfusion was also associated with mitochondrial swelling and decreased mitochondrial respiratory control (from 5.6 +/- 0.3 to 2.6 +/- 0.1). The activity of the antioxidant enzymes and xanthine oxidase was instead without change. After 30 min of vena cava occlusion and 10 min of reperfusion a more marked increase in chemiluminescence (37 +/- 5 cps/cm2), hydrogen peroxide (0.30 +/- 0.01 mumol/L), lactate dehydrogenase (730 +/- 10 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (140 +/- 10 U/L) was observed. No further changes were found in either mitochondrial morphology or respiratory control (2.4 +/- 0.1) in isolated mitochondria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The time course of oxidative stress and tissue damage in zonal liver ischemia-reperfusion in rat liver in vivo was evaluated. After 180 min of ischemia, surface chemiluminescence decreased to zero, state 3 mitochondrial respiration decreased by 70-80%, and xanthine oxidase activity increased by 26% without change in the water content and in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. After reperfusion, marked increases in oxyradical production and tissue damage were detected. Mitochondrial oxygen uptake in state 3 and respiratory control as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and the level of nonenzymatic antioxidants (evaluated by the hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence) were decreased. The severity of the post-reperfusion changes correlated with the time of ischemia. Morphologically, hepatocytes appeared swollen with zonal cord disarrangement which ranged from mild to severe for the tissue reperfused after 60-180 min of ischemia. Neutrophil infiltration was observed after 180 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Mitochondria appear as the major source of hydrogen peroxide in control and in reperfused liver, as indicated by the almost complete inhibition of hydrogen peroxide production exerted by the uncoupler carbonylcyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone. Additionally, inhibition of mitochondrial electron transfer by antimycin in liver slices reproduced the inhibition of state 3 mitochondrial respiration and the increase in hydrogen peroxide steady-state concentration found in reperfused liver. Increased rates of oxyradical production by inhibited mitochondria appear as the initial cause of oxidative stress and liver damage during early reperfusion in rat liver.