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European Journal of Clinical Nutrition May 2019Dietary intake of red and processed meat has been associated with disease risk. Since dietary intake assessment methods are prone to measurement errors, identifying...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Dietary intake of red and processed meat has been associated with disease risk. Since dietary intake assessment methods are prone to measurement errors, identifying biomarkers of meat intake in bio-samples could provide more valid intake estimates. We examined associations of habitual red and processed meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products consumption with plasma concentrations of anserine, carnosine, pi-methylhistidine (Π-MH), tau-methylhistidine (T-MH), and the ratio of T-MH to Π-MH in a cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
Plasma anserine, carnosine, Π-MH, and T-MH concentrations were measured using ion-pair LC-MS/MS in 294 participants in the second Bavarian Food Consumption Survey (BVS II). Habitual food consumption was assessed using three 24-h dietary recalls. Associations between plasma metabolites concentrations and meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products consumption were assessed by fitting generalized linear model, adjusted for age, sex, and BMI.
RESULTS
Total meat intake was associated with plasma concentrations of anserine, carnosine, Π-MH and, the ratio of T-MH to Π-MH. Red meat intake was related to carnosine (p-trend = 0.0028) and Π-MH plasma levels (p-trend = 0.0493). Poultry (p-trend = 0.0006) and chicken (p-trend = 0.0003) intake were associated with Π-MH. The highest anserine concentrations were observed in individuals consuming processed meat or turkey. For T-MH we did not observe any association with meat intake.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate an association between habitual meat consumption and plasma concentrations of anserine, carnosine, Π-MH and the ratio of T-MH to Π-MH. Intervention studies should clarify whether the analyzed plasma metabolites are indicative for a specific type of meat before proposing them as biomarkers of habitual meat intake in epidemiologic studies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anserine; Biomarkers; Carnosine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Meat; Methylhistidines; Middle Aged; Nutrition Assessment; Predictive Value of Tests; Young Adult
PubMed: 30018457
DOI: 10.1038/s41430-018-0248-1 -
PeerJ 2020In European and North American cities geese are among the most common and most visible large herbivores. As such, their presence and behaviour often conflict with the...
BACKGROUND
In European and North American cities geese are among the most common and most visible large herbivores. As such, their presence and behaviour often conflict with the desires of the human residents. Fouling, noise, aggression and health concerns are all cited as reasons that there are "". Lethal control is often used for population management; however, this raises questions about whether this is a sustainable strategy to resolve the conflict between humans and geese when, paradoxically, it is humans that are responsible for creating the habitat and often providing the food and protection of geese at other times. We hypothesise that the landscaping of suburban parks can be improved to decrease its attractiveness to geese and to reduce the opportunity for conflict between geese and humans.
METHODS
Using observations collected over five years from a botanic garden situated in suburban Belgium and data from the whole of Flanders in Belgium, we examined landscape features that attract geese. These included the presence of islands in lakes, the distance from water, barriers to level flight and the size of exploited areas. The birds studied were the tadornine goose (L. 1766) (Egyptian goose) and the anserine geese, (L. 1758) (Canada goose), (L. 1758) (greylag goose) and (Bechstein, 1803) (barnacle goose). Landscape modification is a known method for altering goose behaviour, but there is little information on the power of such methods with which to inform managers and planners.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that lakes with islands attract more than twice as many anserine geese than lakes without islands, but make little difference to Egyptian geese. Furthermore, flight barriers between grazing areas and lakes are an effective deterrent to geese using an area for feeding. Keeping grazing areas small and surrounded by trees reduces their attractiveness to geese.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that landscape design can be used successfully to reduce the number of geese and their conflict with humans. However, this approach has its limitations and would require humans to compromise on what they expect from their landscaped parks, such as open vistas, lakes, islands and closely cropped lawns.
PubMed: 33024625
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9846 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2021There is substantial evidence for the antioxidant functions of imidazole-containing dipeptides (IDPs), including carnosine and anserine, under physiological and...
There is substantial evidence for the antioxidant functions of imidazole-containing dipeptides (IDPs), including carnosine and anserine, under physiological and pathological conditions in vivo. However, the detailed mechanism underlying the antioxidant functions is still poorly understood. Recently, we discovered the endogenous production of 2-oxo-imidazole-containing dipeptides (2-oxo-IDPs), such as 2-oxo-carnosine and 2-oxo-anserine, as novel derivatives of IDPs in mouse tissues and revealed that the antioxidant capacity of 2-oxo-carnosine was much greater than that of carnosine. However, the antioxidant capacity of 2-oxo-IDPs still remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated 2-oxo-carnosine and 2-oxo-anserine by multiple in vitro assays, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays in comparison with the corresponding IDPs, carnosine and anserine. All the assays employed herein demonstrated that 2-oxo-carnosine and 2-oxo-anserine exhibited a greater antioxidant capacity than that of the corresponding IDPs. Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry revealed that commercial IDPs standards were contaminated with a certain amount of 2-oxo-IDPs, which was correlated with the antioxidant capacity. DPPH radical scavenging assay revealed that the elimination of contaminated 2-oxo-IDPs from the IDPs standards caused a significant decrease in the antioxidant capacity compared to the original IDPs standards. These results suggest that the main driver of the antioxidant capacity of IDPs is 2-oxo-IDPs; accordingly, the conversion of IDPs to 2-oxo-IDPs may be a critical step in the antioxidant functions.
PubMed: 34573066
DOI: 10.3390/antiox10091434 -
Environmental Toxicology and... Feb 2022Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP)...
Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) against CdCl-induced neurotoxicity in N2a and SH-SY5Y cells and in the cerebral cortex of BALB/c mice. In addition, we aimed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these protective effects. Relative to CdCl treatment alone, pretreatment with PAP prevented the reduction in cell viability evoked by CdCl, decreased rates of apoptosis, promoted calcium homeostasis, decreased ROS accumulation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cytochrome C and AIF release, and prevented the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. In addition, PAP significantly decreased the CdCl-induced phosphorylation of CaMKII, Akt, and mTOR. In conclusion, PAP represents a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced neurotoxicity, functioning in part via attenuating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the Ca-CaMKII-dependent Akt/mTOR pathway.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Cadmium Chloride; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cerebral Cortex; Humans; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Plant Extracts; Polysaccharides; Potentilla; Protective Agents; Mice
PubMed: 35066145
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.103816 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023The protozoan parasite is the primary cause of human babesiosis. This parasite invades and multiplies inside red blood cells (RBCs), and infections differ significantly...
INTRODUCTION
The protozoan parasite is the primary cause of human babesiosis. This parasite invades and multiplies inside red blood cells (RBCs), and infections differ significantly based on the age and immune competency of the host. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of serum metabolic profiling to identify systemic metabolic variations between -infected mice and noninfected controls.
METHODS
A serum metabolomics analysis of BALB/c mice that had been intraperitoneally injected with 10 -infected RBCs was performed. Serum samples from the early infected group (2 days postinfection), the acutely infected group (9 days postinfection), and the noninfected group were collected and evaluated using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) platform. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified metabolomic profiles that differentiated the -infected and noninfected groups.
RESULTS
Our results confirm that the serum metabolome is significantly influenced by acute infection and show that infection results in dysregulation of metabolic pathways and perturbation of metabolites. Acutely infected mice displayed perturbations in metabolites associated with taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, histidine metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Taurocholic acid, anserine, and arachidonic acid may be potential candidates as serological biomarkers for diagnosing infection at the acute stage. These metabolites could be further examined for their role in disease complexity.
DISCUSSION
Our findings demonstrate that the acute stage of infection induces abnormalities in the metabolites present in mouse serum and provide new insight into the mechanisms involved in systemic metabolic changes that occur during infection.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Arachidonic Acid; Metabolomics
PubMed: 37187473
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1179967 -
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual Mar 2021
PubMed: 33747628
DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1102a19 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2020Carnosinase 1 (CN1) is encoded by the gene and degrades carnosine and anserine, two natural histidine-containing dipeptides. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest...
Carnosinase 1 (CN1) is encoded by the gene and degrades carnosine and anserine, two natural histidine-containing dipeptides. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest carnosine- and anserine-mediated protection against long-term sequelae of reactive metabolites accumulating, e.g., in diabetes mellitus. We have characterized the metabolic impact of CN1 in 11- and 55-week-old -knockout (-KO) mice and litter-matched wildtypes (WT). In -KO mice, renal carnosine and anserine concentrations were gender-specifically increased 2- to 9-fold, respectively in the kidney and both most abundant in the renal cortex, but remained unchanged in all other organs and in serum. Renal oxidized/reduced glutathione concentrations, renal morphology and function were unaltered. In -KO mice at week 11, renal asparagine, serine and glutamine levels and at week 55, renal arginine concentration were reduced. Renal heat-shock-protein 70 () mRNA declined with age in WT but not in -KO mice, transcription factor heat-shock-factor 1 was higher in 55-week-old KO mice. Fasting blood glucose concentrations decreased with age in WT mice, but were unchanged in mice. Blood glucose response to intraperitoneal insulin was gender- but not genotype-dependent, the response to intraperitoneal glucose injection was similar in all groups. A global -KO selectively, age- and gender-specifically, increases renal carnosine and anserine concentrations, alters renal amino acid- and HSP70 profile and modifies systemic glucose homeostasis. Increase of the natural occurring carnosine and anserine levels in the kidney by modulation of CN1 represents a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate or prevent chronic kidney diseases such as diabetic nephropathy.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Anserine; Blood Glucose; Carnosine; Diabetic Nephropathies; Dipeptidases; Female; Glucose; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Insulin; Kidney; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; RNA, Messenger
PubMed: 32664451
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144887 -
Neurochemistry International Jul 2021Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal with cytotoxicity, can activate autophagy. This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide...
Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal with cytotoxicity, can activate autophagy. This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) on autophagy in N2a cells, primary neurons, and the brain of BALB/c mice exposed to Cd. The CCK-8 assay results showed that the cell viability decreased and the number of acidic vesicular organelles, autophagic vacuoles, lysosomes, and dysfunctional mitochondria increased in the cytoplasm of Cd-exposed N2a cells and primary neurons, as revealed by acridine orange staining, monodansylcadaverine staining, and transmission electron microscopy. PAP mitigated Cd-induced neuronal death and characteristic changes in autophagy. The expression of LC3 IILC3 II, Bcl-2, p62, Beclin-1, and PI3K class III was examined by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002 or 3-MA) and/or PAP reversed the Cd-induced upregulated expression of LC3 II, Beclin-1, and PI3K class III, with a synergy between PI3K inhibitor and PAP against Cd-induced autophagy. The findings suggested that PAP partially prevented Cd-induced autophagic cell death in neurons by inhibiting the PI3K class III/Beclin-1 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.
Topics: Animals; Anserine; Autophagy; Cadmium; Cell Survival; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Polysaccharides; Potentilla; Mice
PubMed: 33887379
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105045 -
Amino Acids Jan 2019Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) and its methylated analogue anserine are present in relevant concentrations in the omnivore human diet. Several studies reported...
Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) and its methylated analogue anserine are present in relevant concentrations in the omnivore human diet. Several studies reported promising therapeutic potential for carnosine in various rodent models of oxidative stress and inflammation-related chronic diseases. Nevertheless, the poor serum stability of carnosine in humans makes the translation of rodent models hard. Even though anserine and carnosine have similar biochemical properties, anserine has better serum stability. Despite this interesting profile, the research on anserine is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the bioavailability and stability of synthesized anserine by (1) performing in vitro stability experiments in human plasma and molecular modelling studies and by (2) evaluating the plasma and urinary pharmacokinetic profile in healthy volunteers following different doses of anserine (4-10-20 mg/kg body weight). A bio-analytical method for measuring anserine levels was developed and validated using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry. Both plasma (C: 0.54-1.10-3.12 µM) and urinary (C: 0.09-0.41-0.72 mg/mg creatinine) anserine increased dose-dependently following ingestion of 4-10-20 anserine mg/kg BW, respectively. The inter-individual variation in plasma anserine was mainly explained by the activity (R = 0.75) and content (R = 0.77) of the enzyme serum carnosinase-1. Compared to carnosine, a lower interaction energy of anserine with carnosinase-1 was suggested by molecular modelling studies. Conversely, the two dipeptides seems to have similar interaction with the PEPT1 transporter. It can be concluded that nutritionally relevant doses of synthesized anserine are well-absorbed and that its degradation by serum carnosinase-1 is less pronounced compared to carnosine. This makes anserine a good candidate as a more stable carnosine-analogue to attenuate chronic diseases in humans.
Topics: Adult; Anserine; Carnosine; Chromatography, Liquid; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 30302566
DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2663-y -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Sep 2022Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical factors that cause damage in salt-stressed plants, but their mechanisms of action in living cells are largely unknown. We...
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical factors that cause damage in salt-stressed plants, but their mechanisms of action in living cells are largely unknown. We investigated the roles of reactive carbonyl species (RCS), i.e., the lipid peroxide-derived α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, in plant growth retardation under salt stress. When Col-0 seeds were exposed to 100 mM NaCl, germination was delayed and the levels of ROS, RCS, and protein carbonylation in the seedlings were increased. Adding the histidine-containing dipeptides carnosine, -acetylcarnosine, and anserine, which are reported RCS scavengers, restored the germination speed and suppressed the increases in RCS and protein carbonylation but did not affect the ROS level. Increases in the levels of the RCS acrolein, crotonaldehyde, ()-2-pentenal, and 4-hydroxy-()-2-nonenal were positively correlated with the delay of germination and growth inhibition. These RCS, generated downstream of ROS, are thus primarily responsible for the salt-stress symptoms of plants.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Dipeptides; Histidine; Plants; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salt Stress
PubMed: 36054836
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03800