Developmental expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase in rat: a comparison of liver and lung development.

Metabolism is one of the major determinants for age-related changes in susceptibility to chemicals. Aldehydes are highly reactive molecules present in the environment that also can be produced during biotransformation of xenobiotics and endogenous metabolism. Although the lung is a major target for aldehyde toxicity, early development of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) in lung has been poorly studied. The expression of ALDH in liver and lung across ages (postnatal day 1, 8, 22, and 60) was investigated in Wistar-Han rats. In adult, the majority of hepatic ALDH activity was found in mitochondria, while cytosolic ALDH activity was the highest contributor in lung. Total aldehyde oxidation capability in liver increases with age, but stays constant in lung. These overall developmental profiles of ALDH expression in a tissue appear to be determined by the different composition of ALDH isoforms within the tissue and their independent temporal and tissue-specific development. ALDH2 showed the most notable tissue-specific development. Hepatic ALDH2 was increased with age, while the pulmonary form did not. ALDH1 was at its maximum value at postnatal day 1 (PND1) and decreased thereafter both in liver and lung. ALDH3 increased with age in liver and lung, although ALDH3A1 was only detectible in lung. Collectively, the present study indicates that, in the case of aldehyde exposure, the in vivo responses would be tissue and age dependent.     

Klinefelter综合征患者和双亲对诱变剂敏感性研究

为了解诱变剂对Ｋｌｉｎｅｆｅｌｔｅｒ综合征发生的影响，对Ｋｌｉｎｅｆｅｌｔｅｒ综合征患者，患者双亲及对照进行丝裂霉素Ｃ，乙醛或乙醇诱导非二倍体，染色体结构畸变及微核观察，发现丝裂霉素Ｃ诱导的患者当色体结构畸变和微核均显著多于对照和双亲，乙醛和乙醇能诱导非二倍体和微核增加，但患者和双亲增加的程度极显著高于对照，提示Ｋｌｉｎｅｆｅｌｔｅｒ综合征患者对于丝裂霉素Ｃ，乙醛和乙醇诱导染色体畸变更敏感。双亲对     

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of microencapsulated citral in rats and mice.

Citral, a widely used natural ingredient, is added to foods and cosmetics as a flavoring and fragrance agent. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to microencapsulated citral in the feed for 14 weeks or two years. All studies included untreated and vehicle control groups. In the 14-week studies, rats and mice were given diets containing 3,900, 7,800, 15,600, or 31,300 ppm citral. In rats, food consumption was reduced in the two highest dose groups. In mice an apparent increase in food consumption was observed, but was due to mice scattering the feed. Body weights of all treated animals were less than controls. All rats and four male mice were killed moribund in the high dose groups. In rats, forestomach and kidney lesions were observed. At the higher doses, lesions observed in the bone marrow, testes, and thymus in rats and in the ovary in mice were considered related to inanition and resultant moribundity. In the two-year studies, rats were exposed to 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 ppm citral. Body weights were reduced in the 4,000 ppm rats. Mice were exposed to 500, 1,000, or 2,000 ppm citral. Body weights in the 1,000 and 2,000 ppm groups were reduced. No neoplasms were attributed to citral in rats or mice. Malignant lymphoma occurred with a positive trend and was significantly greater than controls in female mice in the 2,000 ppm group. However, the incidences were within the NTP historical control range and could not be clearly related to citral administration.     

A toxicokinetic model of malathion and its metabolites as a tool to assess human exposure and risk through measurements of urinary biomarkers.

A toxicokinetic model is proposed to predict the time evolution of malathion and its metabolites, mono- and dicarboxylic acids (MCA, DCA) and phosphoric derivatives (dimethyl dithiophosphate [DMDTP], dimethyl thiophosphate [DMTP], and dimethyl phosphate [DMP]) in the human body and excreta, under a variety of exposure routes and scenarios. The biological determinants of the kinetics were established from published data on the in vivo time profiles of malathion and its metabolites in the blood and urine of human volunteers exposed by intravenous, oral, or dermal routes. In the model, body and excreta compartments were used to represent the time varying amounts of each of the following: malathion, MCA, DCA, DMDTP, DMTP, and DMP. The dynamic of intercompartment exchanges was described mathematically by a differential equation system that ensured conservation of mass at all times. The model parameters were determined by statistically adjusting the explicit solution of the differential equations to the experimental human data. Simulations provide a close approximation to kinetic data available in the published literature. When simulating a dermal exposure to malathion, the main route of entry for workers, the model predicts that it takes an average of 11.8 h to recover half of the absorbed dose of malathion eventually excreted in urine as metabolites, compared to 3.2 h following an intravenous injection and 4.0 h after oral administration. This shows that following a dermal exposure, the absorption rate governs the urinary excretion rate of malathion metabolites because the dermal absorption rate is much slower than biotransformation and renal clearance processes. The model served to establish biological reference values for malathion metabolites in urine since it allows links to be made between the absorbed dose of malathion and the time course of cumulative amounts of metabolites excreted in urine. From the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of 0.61 micromol/kg/day derived from the data of Moeller and Rider (1962), the model predicts corresponding biological reference values for MCA, DCA, and phosphoric derivatives of 44, 13, and 62 nmol/kg, respectively, in 24-h urine samples. The latter were used to assess the health risk of workers exposed to malathion in botanical greenhouses, starting from urinary measurements of MCA and DCA metabolites.     

醛、醇脱氢酶基因多态性与三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎易感性的关系

目的研究醛脱氢酶、醇脱氢酶基因多态性与三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎易感性的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法,比较108例三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎病人和145例健康三氯乙烯接触工人醛脱氢酶2(ALDH2)、醇脱氢酶2(ADH2)和醇脱氢酶3(ADH3)的基因多态性分布,并计算相对危险度(OR)。结果ADH2和ADH3基因型分布在病人与接触对照工人中无显著性差异;ALDH2变异型基因(ALDH2*1/*2+ALDH2*2/*2)频率在病人中显著低于接触对照工人(分别为27·8%和43·4%,P=0·011),使三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎的危险性显著降低(OR=0·50,95%CI=0·29~0·85)。结论高活性ALDH2可能是导致三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎个体易感性差异的原因之一。     

醛糖还原酶基因多态性同2型糖尿病肾病的相关性

目的：研究醛糖还原酶(AR)基因启动子区C(-12)G多态性同2型糖尿病肾病(DN)发生及发展的相关性。方法：采用PCR-RFLP技术在209例2型糖尿病和84例对照组人群中筛查该位点等位基因及基因型的频率，比较在无肾病组及肾病各组中频率的差异，以推断AR基因是否参与了肾病的发生和进展。结果：G等位基因在肾病组的分布频率是87．2％，高于无肾病组的78．1％和正常对照组的77．4％；GG基因型在肾病组的分布频率是74．4％，高于无肾病组的63．8％和正常对照组的57．1％。结论：AR基因-12位点G等位基因及GG基因型是2型DN发生的独立危险因素。     

Use of dicarboxylic acids in type 2 diabetes

Even‐number, medium‐chain dicarboxylic acids (DAs), naturally occurring in higher plants, are a promising alternative energy substrate. Unlike the homologous fatty acids, DAs are soluble in water as salts. They are β‐oxidized, providing acetyl‐CoA and succinyl‐CoA, the latter being an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Sebacic acid and dodecanedioic acid, DAs with 10 and 12 carbon atoms respectively, provide 6.6 and 7.2 kcal g⁻¹ each; therefore, their energy density is intermediate between glucose and fatty acids. Dicarboxylic acids have been proved to be safe in both experimental animals and humans, and their use has recently been proposed in diabetes. Studies in animals and humans with type 2 diabetes showed that oral administration of sebacic acid improved glycaemic control, probably by enhancing insulin sensitivity, and reduced hepatic gluconeogenesis and glucose output. Moreover, dodecanedioic acid intake reduced muscle fatigue during exercise in subjects with type 2 diabetes, suggesting an improvement of energy utilization and ‘metabolic flexibility’. In this article, we review the natural sources of DAs, their fate in animals and humans and their effect in improving glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes.     

抑制羰基应激改善老龄小鼠心肌缺血预处理的保护作用

目的 本研究旨在探讨激活乙醛脱氢酶2（ALDH2）对老龄小鼠缺血预处理（IPC）心肌保护作用的影响。通过观察成年和老龄小鼠心肌沉默信息调节因子相关酶1（SIRT1）活性在IPC过程中的差异,分析老龄鼠心肌IPC保护作用减退的可能机制。方法 成年（2月龄）和老龄（20月龄）雄性C57小鼠（每组各6只）在体给予3个5min缺血/5min再灌注循环的IPC处理后,以冠状动脉左前降支结扎缺血30min再灌注4h建立在体小鼠急性心肌I/R模型。离体心脏行Langendorff灌流给予3个循环的5min停流/5min再灌注以模拟全心IPC,同时记录心功能变化。在体或离体再灌注结束后取心肌组织检测ALDH2和SIRT1活性,及蛋白质羰基化程度。结果 与成年组相比,IPC处理并不能有效地改善衰老心肌的I/R损伤和SIRT1活性。检测心肌ALDH2活性显示,老龄鼠心肌ALDH2的活性较成年组显著降低并导致衰老心肌在I/R后出现羰基应激增强（均P＜0.05）。IPC并不能有效改善老龄鼠心肌ALDH2活性和羰基应激程度。预先激活老龄鼠心肌的ALDH2可显著抑制衰老心肌的羰基应激,改善IPC对老龄鼠I/R心肌SIRT1有激活作用（P＜0.05）,进而促进老龄鼠心肌I/R后收缩舒张功能的恢复。结论 激活心肌ALDH2可显著改善老龄鼠心肌IPC的保护作用,其机制可能与抑制羰基应激引起的SIRT1失活有关。     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 is associated with recurrence‐free survival but not stem cell‐like properties in hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: It has been reported that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 A1 (ALDH1) could be not only a normal stem cell marker but also a cancer stem cell marker. ALDH1 expression could be a predictor of poor prognosis in a wide range of cancers. However, the role of ALDH1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Method: We conducted loss‐of‐function assays for ALDH1 by using short‐hairpin RNA in HCC cells and evaluated the correlation between ALDH1 expression and clinicopathological features based on immunohistochemical assessment of 49 primary HCC tissues. Results: Neither cell proliferation nor the anchorage‐independent sphere formation ability of HCC cells were altered after ALDH1 knockdown. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that ALDH1 knockdown showed no remarkable change in the proportion of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)⁺ tumor‐initiating cells. Although non‐tumor tissues in primary HCC samples diffusely and homogenously expressed ALDH1 at low levels, tumor tissues contained cells with high levels of ALDH1 expression at varying frequencies. Primary HCC samples were categorized as ALDH1‐high or ALDH1‐low based on the percentage of ALDH1‐overexpressing cells. ALDH1‐high HCC was characterized by low serum levels of α‐fetoprotein (P < 0.01) and well‐differentiated pathology (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that high ALDH1 expression was a favorable prognostic factor in recurrence‐free survival of HCC (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Our findings show that ALDH1 expression has little association with stem cell‐like features in HCC cells. ALDH1 might function as a differentiation marker rather than a stem cell marker in HCC.