Dietary supplementation with l-lysine affects body weight and blood hematological and biochemical parameters in rats

Molecular Biology Reports - l-Lysine (Lys) is a popular additive in foods, but the physiological effects of excess Lys supplementation are poorly understood and upper limits of safe intake have not...     

Phenotypes and cytokine profiles of enriched blood dendritic cells in healthy individuals

Dendritic cells (DC) are highly specialized for initiating adaptive immune responses and are capable of producing a wide variety of cytokines. However, cytokine profiles of the DC naturally present in human blood have received relatively little attention. The objective of this study was to investigate expression of surface markers and cytokines by blood DC not subjected to prolonged culture and/or polyclonal activation, to identify surface phenotypes of cytokine-expressing DC and to evaluate sex and age differences in cytokine profiles of DC. For this purpose, DC were enriched from blood of healthy donors by the use of the adherence method, and expression of surface molecules and intracellular IFN-g, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-15 was studied by flow cytometry. Enriched blood DC expressed higher levels of IFN-g, IL-12 and IL-15, compared to whole mononuclear cells (MNC) incubated for the same time. Expression of IFN-g and IL-12 was confined to the mature CD83+CD11c+ DC subset. Enriched DC from females' blood displayed higher levels of CD80, IL-10 and IL-15. Taken together, enriched blood DC spontaneously express larger amounts of IFN-g, IL-12 and IL-15 than MNC. Sex differences in expression of CD80, IL-10 and IL-15 may have a modulatory influence on immune responses in males and females.     

Steroid profiles of healthy individuals

Urine steroid profiles of healthy individuals can be divided into two groups according to greatly different excretion rates of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). About 80% of the population show an excretion of DHEA in urine of just above the detection limit or less of the main androgens androsterone (A) and etiocholanolone (E). This excretion is only enhanced in psychological stress situations. The remaining 20% excrete DHEA in roughly equal amounts as A and E.While the relation of excreted steroids is rather constant, the absolute amounts may vary greatly. In contrast to the behaviour of all other steroids DHEA excretion is not in relation to other steroids. The group of “high DHEA” producing individuals in particular shows drastic changes in the excretion during a day: the DHEA excretion rapidly rises from morning until afternoon and then drops to rather low values in the resting period during the night. A recognizable DHEA production seems to be closely related to the waking period.     

Associations of sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone with genome-wide DNA methylation

Background

Levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and the androgen testosterone have been associated with risk of diseases throughout the lifecourse. Although both SHBG and testosterone have been shown to be highly heritable, only a fraction of that heritability has been explained by genetic studies. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may explain some of the missing heritability and could potentially inform biological knowledge of endocrine disease mechanisms involved in development of later life disease. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we explored cross-sectional associations of SHBG, total testosterone and bioavailable testosterone in childhood (males only) and adolescence (both males and females) with genome-wide DNA methylation. We also report associations of a SHBG polymorphism (rs12150660) with DNA methylation, which leads to differential levels of SHBG in carriers, as a genetic proxy of circulating SHBG levels.

Results

We identified several novel sites and genomic regions where levels of SHBG, total testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone were associated with DNA methylation, including one region associated with total testosterone in males (annotated to the KLHL31 gene) in both childhood and adolescence and a second region associated with bioavailable testosterone (annotated to the CMYA5 gene) at both time-points. We also identified one region where both SHBG and bioavailable testosterone in males in childhood (annotated to the ZNF718 gene) was associated with DNA methylation.

Conclusion

Our findings have important implications in the understanding of the biological processes of SHBG and testosterone, with the potential for future work to determine the molecular mechanisms that could underpin these associations.

     

Metabolic signature associated with parameters of the complete blood count in apparently healthy individuals

Metabolomics studies now approach large sample sizes and the health characterization of the study population often include complete blood count (CBC) results. Upon careful interpretation the CBC aids diagnosis and provides insight into the health status of the patient within a clinical setting. Uncovering metabolic signatures associated with parameters of the CBC in apparently healthy individuals may facilitate interpretation of metabolomics studies in general and related to diseases. For this purpose 879 subjects from the population‐based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)‐TREND were included. Using metabolomics data resulting from mass‐spectrometry based measurements in plasma samples associations of specific CBC parameters with metabolites were determined by linear regression models. In total, 118 metabolites significantly associated with at least one of the CBC parameters. Strongest associations were observed with metabolites of heme degradation and energy production/consumption. Inverse association seen with mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin comprised metabolites potentially related to kidney function. The presently identified metabolic signatures are likely derived from the general function and formation/elimination of blood cells. The wealth of associated metabolites strongly argues to consider CBC in the interpretation of metabolomics studies, in particular if mutual effects on those parameters by the disease of interest are known.     

Sex differences of hematological and biochemical parameters in healthy rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, R)

A hematological study of the rainbow trout has permitted to establish a sexual difference in the parameters related to it, such as haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte and leukocyte count. The types of leukocytes were homologated to the human blood. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, erythrocyte and leukocyte count values were lower in female than male. The normal values of some biochemistry parameters were equally studied and in some cases they similarly showed a sexual difference. Creatinine, triglycerides, phosphatase alkaline, sodium and globulin values were higher in female than male. Establishing a sexual difference from the biochemical and hematological parameters is possible.     

Normal serum biochemical and hematological parameters in Macaca fascicularis.

The effects of age, sex, pregnancy, were analyzed and data from fasted and fed animals were compared in a population of cynomolgus macaques. No significant sex effects were observed for biochemical values and no changes were found in male hematological parameters in relation to age. Most values of females during pregnancy were within normal ranges. Comparison between fed and fasted animals showed that several biochemical parameters (e.g., ALT, glucose, CPK, LDH) and several hematological parameters (e.g., monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, hemoglobin, MCV, MCHC, and MCH) were affected by food intake.     

Impact of lactation stage on milk composition and blood biochemical and hematological parameters of dairy Baladi goats

The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of lactation stage on milk composition, hematological and biochemical parameters of dairy Baladi goats under Egyptian conditions. Forty-eight Baladi goats (32.8 ± 2.9 kg of BW) were enrolled in the current study. The lactation period has been divided into three stages; early (DIM less than 80 days), Mid (DIM 80–140 days), and Late (DIM over 140 days). Baladi goats had decreased daily-MY at a rate of 18.4% and 31.9% at mid and late stages of lactation, compared with early stage, respectively (p = 0.001). Furthermore, lactose% decreased significantly with progress of lactation (p = 0.017). Total solids%, however, decreased significantly at early stage of lactation in comparison with mid and late stages (p = 0.022). On the contrary, no significant differences were found in protein, fat and SNF percentages at different stages of lactation (p = 0.836, 0.625 and 0.281, respectively). Serum glucose and total protein were significantly reduced at late stage of lactation in comparison with early and mid stages (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). On the contrary, no significant differences were found for erythrocytes count, hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, catalase and triiodothyronine at different stages of lactation. There were high and positive correlations between daily-MY and serum total protein (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) and triiodothyronine (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). However, negative estimates were reported between daily-MY and triglycerides (r = ?0.55, P < 0.01) and cholesterol (r = ?0.33, P < 0.05). Our results indicate that dairy Baladi goats produce milk with relatively stable protein, fat and solid not fat (SNF) contents at the different stages of lactation, encouraging the continuous utilization of their milk in processing. Also, dairy Baladi goats seem able to maintain the most vital biochemical parameters.     

Correlations of blood selenium with hematological parameters in West German Adults

The serum selenium and the whole blood selenium of 72 healthy persons (47 women, 25 men) was determined. There exist sex specific differences of the whole blood selenium between men (98±19 μg Se/L) and women (89±17 μg Se/L). The serum selenium did not show sex specific differences, but sex specific differences are found if the total amount of extracellular selenium is calculated by correction of the serum selenium with the hematocrit. Women have more extracellular selenium/L whole blood (40±8 μg Se) than men (36±7 μg Se). Men have more intraerythrocyte selenium (cellular selenium=67±14 μg Se) in one L whole blood than women (52±17 μg Se). There exist also sex specific differences if the cellular selenium is calculated/g hemoglobin (men .44 μg Se/g Hb, women .37 μg Se/Hb) or per erythrocyte (men 136.1×10^?19 g Se/Ery, women 113.9×10^?19 g Se/Ery). In the cellular compartment of one L whole blood on the average 1.56 times more selenium is present than in the extracellular compartment. Most of the intraerythrocyte selenium is hemoglobin bound (84%) and utmost 16% glutathione peroxidase associated. An erythrocyte contains about 3500 mol glutathione peroxidase, or, for every 80000 mol hemoglobin one mol glutathione peroxidase. A standard man needs about 2.5 μg selenium/d for the synthesis of the hemoglobin and the erythrocyte. The hematological parameters hemoglobin and the erythrocyte number are correlated with the cellular selenium and the ratio cellular selenium/extracellular selenium. Positive significant correlations are found that are best if a parabolic model is used to interpret the shape of the curves. From the shape of the best correlation lines it can be concluded that selenium may be beneficial for hemoglobin synthesis and erythropoesis. The extracellular selenium may have influence on the volume of the erythrocyte by protecting the outer erythrocyte membrane from lipid peroxidation. A method is reported based on the carbon furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, which is able to determine without wet digestion selenium in whole blood.     

Genotype and allele frequency of PAI-1 promoter polymorphism in healthy subjects from the west of Mexico. Association with biochemical and hematological parameters

We investigated the genotype and allelic frequency of the -675 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism at the PAI-1 gene promoter, in healthy Mexican subjects. It was compared to the lipid profile and hematological parameters, and to other healthy worldwide populations. A Mexican population sample of 110 individuals was studied. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of the subjects were registered. Fasting lipid profile, serum glucose, fibrinogen, hematological parameters and leukocyte genomic DNA isolation from peripheral blood were performed in all the participants. Screening of the PAI-1 genotype was done by PCR and restriction analysis. Genotype 4G/4G, 4G/5G, 5G/5G frequency in Mexican healthy subjects was: 14.55%, 39.09%, 46.36%, respectively, whereas the allelic frequency for 5G allele was 65.9%. A significant lesser frequency for 4G allele and related genotypes (4G/4G and 4G/5G) was established in healthy subjects from Mexico, respect to all the compared populations. A particular genotype and allelic frequency of this PAI-1 polymorphism was established in Mexico. The clinical parameters were not associated according to each genotype of PAI-1.     

Effects of primaquine on serum biochemical and hematological parameters in anesthetized Macaca fascicularis

Primaquine phosphate treatment (0.5 mg/kg/day, per os [p.o.], 14 days) significantly increased values for serum sodium, potassium, and uric acid, while calcium levels were decreased in male Macaca fascicularis. Serum values returned to baseline (pretreatment) levels by 30 days following primaquine treatment.     

The changing of cell-free DNA properties of peripheral blood and TCR-mutant cell frequency in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation

Some properties of the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of peripheral blood plasma were assessed in 153 employees of atomic industry enterprises. The contents of ribosomal repeat (rDNA) and its concentration in plasma increased in cfDNA of the group of persons in comparison with non-irradiated individuals. The contents of satellite III in cfDNA of donors and of irradiated persons do not differ and less than in DNA nucleus. The correlation between cumulative dose of radiation, contents of rDNA in cfDNA and the frequency of lymphocytes bearing mutations at T-cell receptor (TCR) locus was obtained. The definition of three indications in irradiated persons: the contents of ribosomal genes in cfDNA, TCR-mutant cell frequency and concentration of ribosomal genes in blood plasma--may be useful for revealing individuals in organism of which an intensive cell apoptosis takes place and there is an increased probability of carcinogenesis and of progress of disease of immune system.     

Amino acid supplementation affects hematological and biochemical parameters in elite rugby players.

Individual amino acid supplementation affects various types of athletic performance. However, little information on combinations of amino acids is currently available. This study evaluated an amino acid mixture containing L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-arginine, and L-glutamine to 3.6 g of total amino acids per dose. Twenty-three rugby players were given 3.6 g, twice, daily of the amino acid mixture for 90 days (June-August 1994) and blood samples were collected for analyses in September 1993, March 1994, September 1994, and September 1995. After 90 days of supplementation, almost all of the athletes reported improvement in vigor and earlier recovery from fatigue. Significant increases (P<0.05) were observed in hemoglobin, RBC count, hematocrit, and serum iron by amino acid supplementation. Significant increases (P<0.05) were also noted in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein along with decreased (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase. All values reverted to original levels when measured after one year of continued training without supplementation.     

Ontogeny of hematological cell and biochemical profiles in maternal and fetal baboons (Papio species)

The normal ranges of hematological cell profiles and biochemistry are documented in adult non-pregnant, pregnant, juvenile, and neonatal baboons. Despite the extensive use of the baboon as a model for the study of various aspects of pregnancy, there is no data from paired mothers and their fetuses at different stages of gestation. Hematologic and biochemical profile data were obtained from eight non-pregnant female baboons, 37 mothers and 38 fetal baboons at 30 +/- 2, 90 +/- 2, 125 +/- 2, and 175 +/- 2 days of gestation (mean +/- range; dGA; term, 180 dGA). Changes observed in fetal and maternal blood during normal baboon pregnancy were similar to those reported in human pregnancy. The level of alkaline phosphatase was two times higher in fetal blood circulation than that reported in human pregnancy.