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Notes: Summary A Ginkgo biloba extract (Gbe) containing flavonoids, among other compounds, was tested for the release of activated oxygen species ( $$O_2^{ - \cdot } $$ , H2O2, OH.) during the stimulation of human neutrophils (PMNs) by a soluble agonist. The extract slows down O2-consumption (respiratory burst) of stimulated cells by its inhibitory action on NADPH-oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the reduction of O2 to $$O_2^{ - \cdot } $$ . Consequently, superoxide anion ( $$O_2^{ - \cdot } $$ ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production is significantly decreased when the PMNs stimulation is done in the presence of the extract at concentrations of 500, 250 and 125 μg/ml. Moreover, the hydroxyl radical generation (OH.) is very much decreased at concentrations as low as 15.6 μg Gbe/ml, which indicates that the extract also has free radical scavenging activity. Gbe is able at least to reduce very severel the activity of myeloperoxidase contained in neutrophils. This enzyme, secreted into the intra and extracellular medium, catalyzes the oxidation of chloride (Cl−) by H2O2 to yield strong oxidants (HOCl, chloramines) which are implicated in inflammatory processes

Notes: Summary Ginkgo biloba extract is known to be efficient in diseases associated with free radical generation. The purpose of this work was to study, under in vitro conditions, the action ofGinkgo biloba extract (Gbe) against superoxide anion ( $$O_{2^{\bar .} }$$ ), which is directly or indirectly implicated in cell damage. Gbe appears to have both an $$O_{2^{\bar .} }$$ scavenging effect and also a superoxide dismutase activity. Its antiradical effect was demonstrated by low temperature electron spin resonance and in a non-enzymatic system (phenazine methosulfate-NADH), and its enzymatic activity was shown by polarographic determination.

Notes: Abstract An increasing body of data suggest that strenuous exercise triggers an inflammatory response having some similarity with those occurring in sepsis. Indices of this inflammatory response to exercise (IRE) especially include leukocytosis, release of inflammatory mediators and acute phase reactants, tissue damage, priming of various white blood cell lines, production of free radicals; activation of complement, coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades. Inflammatory responses to strenuous exercise and sepsis could in part be due to the release of endotoxin in blood as common triggering factor, but it seems that tissue damage and/or contact system activation are more important triggering mechanisms in exercising subjects. While the magnitude and duration of cellular and humoral changes associated with IRE are quite different from those observed in sepsis, recent human studies suggested that chronic and/or excessive IRE could have adverse effects. Among the possible consequences of acute and chronic IRE are delayed onset muscular soreness and loss of force, cardiovascular complications, intravascular hemolysis, hypoferraemia and increased susceptibility to infection.

Notes: Sunlight is essential for human life but we need to avoid overexposure to the sun. Chronic exposure of the skin to UV radiation leads to photoageing (sunburn, wrinkles, spots, freckles, skin texture changes, and dilated blood vessels), immunosuppression, and sometime more serious lesions. UV radiation also causes DNA damage, which is a critical event in skin photoageing and photocarcinogenesis [1]. Exposure to UV light induces wide range of DNA lesions on skin cells by direct absorption (UVB), or via oxidative stress (UVA and UVB). We choose to work on healthy Chinese women skin because it is demonstrated that Asian people developed less skin cancer than Caucasian, and few studies have been done on DNA damage in the skin of Asian subjects [2, 3].The formation of 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is a major type of DNA lesion resulting from oxidative stress. It is a biological marker of oxidative stress on DNA. It causes the transversion of G : C to T : A during DNA replication, which occurs frequently in some genes in human skin lesions on areas exposed to sunlight [4]. Skin cells have evolved several DNA repair mechanisms to counteract immediately the deleterious effects of such lesions that can lead to genomic instability. These repair pathways are present in all living cells and are extremely well conserved. P53 is a phosphoprotein that is activated by stress, up-regulates DNA repair enzymes, participates directly in DNA repair, blocks cell cycles during DNA repair, and induces apoptosis in critically damaged cells. After exposure to UV, basal keratinocytes repair damaged DNA whereas differentiating keratinocytes undergo cell death, both processes are regulated by p53 [5].Repeated exposure of the skin to UV light induces pigmentation and thickening of the epidermis, both of which help to increase tolerance of sunlight. Some studies have shown that this photo-adaptation can help preserve epidermal DNA from UV injury [2, 6–8]. However, as most of these studies were performed by exposing the skin to a single or several acute bursts of radiation, they do not necessarily reflect the effect of chronic exposure to sunlight. The first aim of this study on 15 healthy Chinese women was to determine the effects of chronic exposure to sunlight on DNA damage in the skin. We compared, on sun-protected and sun-exposed skin of the same patient, the amounts of p53 protein and 8-oxo-dG determined by immunohistochemistry method. Blood samples from these women were used to measure their anti-oxidant stress status and hence their intrinsic defence capacities.We also evaluated how changes in the skin induced by chronic exposure to sunlight helped preserve DNA from an acute radiation. The two areas (chronically exposed to and protected from sunlight) were exposed to a relatively low dose of 1 minimal erythema dose (MED). The amounts of the markers (p53 protein and 8-oxo-dG) and the responses of the two areas were compared 24 h after exposure.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉VolunteersVolunteers were recruited and biopsies removed at the Laboratoires Dermexpert (Paris, France), in accordance with international ethical procedures.Volunteers completed a questionnaire that allowed us to estimate their skin sensitivity, phototype, life styles and eating habits. The skin of patients was clinically evaluated by a dermatologist. Blood and urine were taken and analysed. Skin punch biopsies (3 mm) were taken from the anterior surface of the upper arm (protected area) and the posterior surface of the forearm (exposed area). MED was determined. Two zones (one exposed and one protected) on the other arm were irradiated at 1 MED. Punch biopsies (3 mm) were taken from the two irradiated zones 24 h after irradiation.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉MED determinationThe MED values were determined using a multiport solar light (601 model). The anterior forearm test site was exposed to six increasing doses (13.44; 16.8; 21.0; 26.46; 32.76 and 40.95 mJ cm–²). The skin reaction was evaluated visually 24 h later. The lowest dose of UV energy that caused a perceptible demarcated erythema was considered to be 1 MED. Those subjects that had a very mild erythema after the maximum dose (40.95 mJ cm–²) were to be irradiated at 51.24 mJ cm–².〈section xml:id="abs1-5"〉〈title type="main"〉Oxidative stress statusSamples of blood and morning urine were carried out from fasting subjects. The blood samples were used to measure the following parameters: antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, glutathione, thiol proteins, uric acid, total antioxidant capacity), trace metals (selenium, copper, zinc), markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation), and iron status (free iron, ferritin, transferrin). The urine samples were used to assay 8-oxo-dG. Assays were performed by Probiox SA (Liege, Belgium) [9, 10].〈section xml:id="abs1-6"〉〈title type="main"〉ImmunohistochemistryThe punch biopsies were immediately placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (4% formaldehyde) and fixed for 24 h at ambient temperature. They were then embedded in fresh wax and p53 and 8-oxo-dG detected immunohistochemically using BP53-12-1 and N45.1 monoclonal antibodies respectively [11]. Two hundred epidermal cells were counted per sample and the numbers of p53 or 8-oxo-dG positive and negative cells were determined.The statistical methods used were analysis of variance (anova) and linear regression, and all data were assessed for statistical significance (P 〈 0.05).〈section xml:id="abs1-7"〉〈title type="main"〉ResultsThe 15 healthy Chinese women living in France with a age range of 31--43 years (mean: 36 years). The clinical evaluation of the skin performed by a dermatologist and based on wrinkles, heliodermy and pigmentation disorders, showed that all 15 women had similar degree of cutaneous photoageing. Similarly, analysis of global anti-oxidant stress status showed that all 15 women had the same antioxidant potential, providing same intrinsic defence capacities.The amounts of 8-oxo-dG in protected (six to 64 positive cells per 200 epidermal cells; mean: 18.8) and exposed areas (two to 40 positive cells per 200 epidermal cells; mean: 17.1) varied greatly from one individual to another. No difference in the 8-oxo-dG contents was observed between the two areas (〈link href="#f1-16"〉Fig. 1). And there was no statistical correlation between the 8-oxo-dG in the skin and in the urine. The large differences in 8-oxo-dG in the skin between individuals were not correlated with any of the life style parameters in the questionnaire or with any of the blood antioxidant parameters.〈figure xml:id="f1-16"〉1〈mediaResource alt="image" href="urn:x-wiley:01425463:ICS254_16_16:ICS_254_f1-16"/〉Epidermal detection of p53 protein and 8-oxo-dG in sun-protected and chronically sun-exposed skin. Data are the mean of 15 biopsies. These was no statistical difference in the p53 or 8-oxo-dG in the protected and exposed areas.Immunochemical staining for p53 in biopsies of protected skin from all individuals showed one to seven (mean 1.8) stained cells per 200 cells in the epidermis. The skin chronically exposed to sunlight had the same number of p53-stained cells (mean: 1.7) for all women (〈link href="#f1-16"〉Fig. 1). P53-positive nuclei were found in the basal and suprabasal cells of the epidermis. Thus, the sun-protected and sun-exposed areas of skin contained the same amounts of both 8-oxodG and p53.The second part of the study compared the responses of protected and chronically exposed samples of skin from the same patient to a single acute UV radiation. The skin areas of all 15 subjects were exposed to 1 MED and the removal of DNA lesions (8-oxo-dG) and p53 were quantified 24 h later. The MED were similar for 15 volunteers (40.95 or 51.24 mJ cm–²), suggesting that they were all similarly sensitive to sunlight. There was erythema in both areas 24 h after radiation, but it was more