Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.1 (aspartate aminotransferase)
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Non-ceruloplasmin bound copper ('free') seems slightly elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. To test the hypothesis of a correlation between 'free' copper and liver function in AD. We evaluated 51 AD patients and 53 controls through typical tests for chronic liver disease (AST, ALT, gamma-GT, Albumin, prothrombin time - PT-, bilirubins), along with copper, ceruloplasmin, iron, cholesterol in the serum and apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE4) genotype. Absolute serum copper and 'free' copper were higher, albumin was lower and PT longer in AD patients than in controls. 'Free' copper correlated negatively with markers of liver function, in that albumin and albumin/PT ratio (r = -0.43, p = 0.004), and positively with direct bilirubin. Copper and 'free' copper were higher in the APOE4 carriers. These results suggest that abnormalities in copper metabolism might have an effect on liver function in AD.
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PMID:'Free' copper in serum of Alzheimer's disease patients correlates with markers of liver function. 1764 16

Persons heterozygous for Z, S and rare alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT, SERPIN1A) polymorphisms (ca. 9% of population) are often considered 'silent' carriers with increased vulnerability to environmentally modulated liver and lung disease. They may have significantly more anxiety and bipolar spectrum disorders, nutritional compromise, and white matter disease [Schmechel DE, Browndyke J, Ghio A. Strategies for the dissection of genetic-environmental interactions in neurodegenerative disorders. Neurotoxicology 2006;27:637-57]. Given association of art and mood disorders, we examined occupation and artistic vocation from this same series. One thousand five hundred and thirty-seven consecutive persons aged 16-90 years old received comprehensive work-up including testing for AAT 'phenotype' and level, nutritional factors, and inflammatory, iron and copper indices. Occupations were grouped by Bureau of Labor Standards classification and information gathered on artistic activities. Proportion of reactive airway disease, obstructive pulmonary disease, and pre-existing anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder were significantly increased in persons carrying AAT non-M polymorphisms compared to normal MM genotype (respectively, 10, 20, 21, and 33% compared to 8, 12, 11, and 9%; contingency table, pulmonary: chi2 37, p=0.0001; affective disorder: chi2=171, p=0.0001). In persons with artistic avocation (n=189) or occupation (n=57), AAT non-M polymorphisms are significantly increased (respectively, proportions of 44 and 40% compared to background rate of 9%; contingency table, avocation: chi2=172, p=0.0001; occupation: chi2=57, p=0.0007). Artistic ability and 'anxiety/bipolar spectrum' mood disorders may represent phenotypic attributes that had selective advantage during recent human evolution, an 'intensive creative energy' (ICE) behavioral phenotype. Background proportion of ICE of 7% consists of 49 of 1312 persons with AAT MM genotype (4%), and 58 of 225 persons with non-MM genotypes (26%) (contingency table, chi2=222, p=0.0001). Penetrance of ICE increases in genotypes with lower AAT levels: PiMS, 18%; PiMZ, 44%; PiSS and PiZZ, 100% (five cases). At all ages, persons with non-MM genotype had significantly higher proportion of thiamine deficiency (50% in PiMZ), reactive hypoglycemia (20% in PiMZ), and possibly fatty liver (thiamine: chi2=28, p=0.0001; hypoglycemia: chi2=92, p=0.0001). In older persons, PiMZ genotype had significantly increased proportion (46%) of brain MRI T2 white matter abnormalities (chi2=49, p=0.003). Persons with ICE and MM genotype showed increased prevalence of pulmonary disorders and same signature as S and Z carriers and homozygotes (see above). Z polymorphism was associated with delayed age of onset (average 7 years) for persons with toxic environmental or occupational exposures (log rank, p=0.0001) and more stable cognitive change in persons with neurodegenerative illness (p<0.05). At all ages, ICE phenotype and Z polymorphism were associated with altered copper homeostasis with low or absent non-ceruloplasmin bound copper (p<0.05). AAT polymorphisms which affect iron, lipid and copper metabolism may affect early events in nervous system development, function and response to environmental exposures. AAT may also be a 'switch' for copper metabolism and low 'free' copper would be theorized to provide protection for lipid oxidation and favorably affect beta-amyloid and other aggregation, but possibly alter early 'critical' period of CNS development. AAT polymorphisms may define an important and treatable subset of persons presenting with CNS disorders. This new proposed phenotype for AAT transcends classic pattern of strictly liver and lung disease, and should be considered for proper evaluation and management of patients presenting with classic AAT-related disorders, affective disorders, persons with ICE, white matter disease or multisystem disorders of memory.
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PMID:Art, alpha-1-antitrypsin polymorphisms and intense creative energy: blessing or curse? 1765 42

The aim of the study is to evaluate the serum copper, ceruloplasmin and 24-h urine copper levels in celiac patients. Serum copper, ceruloplasmin and 24-h urine measurements were evaluated in patients with celiac (n = 32), Crohn's (n = 25), Wilson's (n = 11) and in a healthy group (n = 35). Serum and 24-h urine zinc levels, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine, iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocyte, sedimentation and CRP levels were also measured. Results were evaluated statistically and significance was accepted as meaningful if P < 0.05. In celiacs, levels of urine copper were high (52 +/- 29 microg/day, P < 0.000) but serum copper was the same as in controls (105 +/- 16 microg/dl, P < 0.158). High urinary copper of celiacs were coming out in women (56 +/- 30 microg/day) and in man (33 +/- 17 microg/day, P < 0.115). Most celiacs were female (P < 0.001). Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in all groups were higher in women than in men and this was meaningful for serum copper in the control group (P < 0.045) and for ceruloplasmin in Crohn's (P < 0.055) and control groups (P < 0.031). Serum (70 +/- 14 microg/dl, P < 0.000) and urine zinc levels (25 +/- 15 microg/dl, P < 0.039) of celiacs were low. Ceruloplasmin levels were higher in celiacs (337 +/- 64 U/1) and Crohn's patients (366 +/- 47 U/l, P < 0.000). Correlations observed in the groups of celiac (P < 0.029) and Crohn's (P < 0.024), celiac and Wilson's (P < 0.001) and Crohn's and Wilson's (P < 0.001) between the ceruloplasmin and 24-h urine copper parameters. AST and ALT levels were higher in celiac and Wilson's patients than in Crohn's patients and controls. Mean CRP levels were significantly higher in Crohn's than others. Lymphocyte counts were meaningfully higher in celiacs. Statistically, while mean iron, hemoglobulin and hematocrit levels of celiac and Crohn groups were meaningfully lower than the normal and Wilson's group, it was similar in Wilson's and the control group. Serum copper (85 +/- 26 microg/dl, P < 0.158) and ceruloplasmin (219 +/- 83 U/l, P < 0.001) levels were low and 24-h urine copper levels were high (415 +/- 346 microg/day) in Wilson's group. Increased urinary loss may be another cause of copper deficiency in female celiacs besides malabsorption and this topic needs more investigation. Increased urinary copper levels in celiac women should not always be regarded as a diagnosis of Wilson's disease.
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PMID:Serum copper, ceruloplasmin and 24-h urine copper evaluations in celiac patients. 1793 56

Previous studies showed that responses to chronic administration of copper were significantly associated with gender, raising the need to better characterize the relation between the effects observed and stradiols. The objective of this study was to measure copper and liver function indicators and the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) serum concentrations in healthy adults exposed to copper, grouped by sex and phase of the female hormonal cycle. Healthy females on day 7 (follicular phase, Group 1, n = 39), on day 21 (secretory phase, Group 2, n = 34) and males (comparison group, Group 3, n = 34) received 8 mg Cu/day (as copper sulfate), orally, for 6 months. On days 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180, the serum concentration of copper, ceruloplasmin, liver aminotransferases, and SHBG were measured. Analysis of results included analysis of variance (ANOVA; repeated measures) and the post hoc Bonferroni correction. Participants remained healthy throughout the study period, including aminotransferases below the cut off in all measures. GGT, AST, and ALT activities were significantly different by group and by time (ANOVA repeated measures P < 0.05). Six-month curves of serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations were different by group, by time and interaction group x time (all P < 0.001). SHBG curves were different by group and time (P < 0.01), and interaction group x time (P < 0.009). Serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and liver aminotranferases are influenced by estrogens/progesterone, something that should be considered when these indicators are used as outcomes of effects. Time of sampling was also significantly associated with the indicators and deserves further study.
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PMID:Copper and liver function indicators vary depending on the female hormonal cycle and serum hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentration in healthy women. 1818 96

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of gamma-irradiation induced cellular damage and the administration of dietary antioxidants has been suggested to protect against the subsequent tissue damage. Here, we present the data to explore the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of hesperidin, a naturally occurring citrus flavanoglycone, against gamma-irradiation induced oxidative damage in the liver of rats. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to gamma-irradiation (1 Gy, 3 Gy and 5 Gy) and were administered hesperidin (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, b.w, orally) for 7 days post irradiation. The changes in body weight, liver weight, spleen index, serum and liver aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and serum ceruloplasmin levels were determined along with differences in the liver histopathology. Liver thiobarbuturic acid reactive substance as an index for lipid peroxidation and the levels of enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and the status of non-enzymatic antioxidants as an index for oxidative stress were also determined. Exposure to gamma-irradiation resulted in hepatocellular damage in a dose-dependent manner, featuring a significantly decreased body weight and liver weight and higher levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and gamma-GT levels and a simultaneous decrease in their levels in the liver tissue. Oxidative stress was evidenced by elevated levels of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the levels of key enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the liver. However, the gamma-irradiation induced toxic effects were dramatically and dose-dependently inhibited by hesperidin treatment as observed by the restoration in the altered levels of the marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The results of the biochemical observations were supported by the histopathological findings. Thus, oral administration of hesperidin was found to offer protection against gamma-irradiation induced hepatocellular damage and oxidative stress in rats, probably by exerting a protective effect against hepatocellular necrosis via its free radical scavenging and membrane stabilizing ability.
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PMID:Hesperidin a flavanoglycone protects against gamma-irradiation induced hepatocellular damage and oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats. 1848 45

Pomegranate components have properties that could promote oral health, including reducing the risk of gingivitis. The present study examined young adults (n = 32, split evenly among both genders), for the effects of 4 weeks of thrice daily mouth rinsing with the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract PomElla dissolved in water. This treatment changed salivary measures relevant to oral health including gingivitis. The changes were: reduced total protein (which can correlate with plaque forming bacteria readings), reduced activities of aspartate aminotransferase (an indicator of cell injury), reduced alpha-glucosidase activity (a sucrose degrading enzyme), increased activities of the antioxidant enzyme ceruloplasmin (which could give better protection against oral oxidant stress) and increased radical scavenging capacity (though this increase was significant only by nonparametric statistical analysis). A placebo of cornstarch in water did not affect these measures. These data raise the possibility of using pomegranate extracts in oral health products such as toothpaste and mouthwashes.
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PMID:Pomegranate extract mouth rinsing effects on saliva measures relevant to gingivitis risk. 1917 Jan 39

Changes in serum biochemistry in response to single- and combined-metal exposure were studied in a freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Zn, 1.0 mg/L Cd, and 5.0 mg/L Zn+1.0 mg/L Cd mixtures for 7 and 14 days to determine levels of biochemical parameters and metals in blood serum. The individual and combined effects of metals caused an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and in levels of albumin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, cortisol, glucose, and total protein, whereas they caused a decrease in cholesterol levels. At both exposure periods, increased ALT activity of fish exposed to Cd was higher compared with the Zn and Zn+Cd groups, respectively. The decreased cholesterol level was higher in the Cd alone, and for Cd in combination with Zn, than in Zn alone at 14 days. Zn or Cd levels increased in the blood serum of fish exposed to metals individually or in combination. When fish were exposed to the mixtures of Zn+Cd, concentrations of these metals in their serum were lower than in fish exposed to individual metals. One metal blocks or even antagonizes the gill epithelium absorption of the other and thereby limits the distribution of the metal in blood. The results indicate that biochemical parameters in fish blood can be used as an indicator of heavy-metal toxicity.
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PMID:Individual and combined effects of heavy metals on serum biochemistry of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. 1948 1

Classic copper indicators are not sensitive and specific for detecting excess copper exposure when this is higher than customary but not markedly elevated. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin (Cp) are the most commonly used indicators to assess nutritional status of copper. The objective of this paper was to study the influence of estrogens on these indicators and others used to assess early effects of excess copper exposure in humans and the expression of a set of copper related proteins in a hepatic cellular model. For the studies in humans, 107 healthy participants (18-50 years) were allocated as follows: group 1 (n = 39), women assessed on day 7 of their hormonal cycle; group 2 (n = 34), women assessed on day 21 of their hormonal cycle, and group 3 (n = 34, comparison group), healthy men. Participants received 8 mg Cu/day (as copper sulfate) during 6 months. Serum Cp and Cu, Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase activity, liver function indicators [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT)], and serum Fe and Zn concentrations were measured monthly. In addition, the influence of estradiol on intracellular total copper content, hctr1, dmt1 and shbg mRNA abundance and hCTR1, and DMT1 expression was measured in HepG2 cells. Serum Cu, Fe, and Zn and liver aminotransferases but not Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase varied depending on sex. Fe nutrition indicators, GGT, and ALT activities showed significant differences between the hormonal phases. Cellular experiments showed that estradiol increased cellular Cu concentration and hCTR1 and DMT1 mRNA expression and changed these proteins expression patterns. Estradiols significantly influence the responses to copper at the whole body and the cellular levels, suggesting that they help maintaining copper availability for metabolic needs.
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PMID:Influence of estrogens on copper indicators: in vivo and in vitro studies. 1968 12

The hepatoprotective, curative and anti-oxidant properties of aqueous extract of Hybanthus enneaspermus (Violaceae) used against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats were investigated in the present study. Liver damage was induced by CCl4 (1 ml/kg i.p.), and silymarin was used as a standard drug to compare hepatoprotective, curative and antioxidant effects of the extract. Rats were treated with aqueous extract of H. enneaspermus at a dose of either 200 or 400 mg/kg after division into pre-treatment (once daily for 14 days before CCl4 intoxication) and post-treatment (2, 6, 24 and 48 h after CCl4 intoxication) groups. Pre-treatment and post-treatment with aqueous extract of H. enneaspermus showed significant hepatoprotection by reducing the aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activities and total bilirubin levels which had been raised by CCl4 administration. Pre- and post-treatment with aqueous extract significantly decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation as well as producing a corresponding increase in tissue total thiols. Post-treatment with aqueous extract improved ceruloplasmin levels. The histopathological examination of rat liver sections treated with aqueous extract confirms the serum biochemical observations. The present study results demonstrate the protective, curative and anti-oxidant effects of H. enneaspermus aqueous extract used against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and suggest a potential therapeutic use of H. enneaspermus as an alternative for patients with acute liver diseases.
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PMID:Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Hybanthus enneaspermus against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. 2147 3

It is now accepted that transition metals, such as iron and copper, are involved in the pathogenesis of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) through their participation in toxic oxidative phenomena. In this context, hemochromatosis (Hfe) and transferrin (Tf) genes are of particular importance, since they play a key role in iron homeostasis. Also, signs of liver distress which accompany metal dysmetabolisms have been shown to be linked to AD. In order to investigate whether and how all these factors are interconnected, in this study we have explored the relationship of the gene variants of Hfe H63D and C282Y and of Tf C2 with serum markers of iron status (iron, ferritin, TF, TF-saturation, ceruloplasmin -CP-, CP and TF serum concentrations (CP/TF) ratio), and of liver function (albumin, transaminases, prothrombin time-prothrombin time (PT)) in a sample of 160 AD patients and 79 healthy elderly controls. Albumin resulted in lower, PT longer and AST/ALT higher ratios in AD patients than in controls, indicating a distress of the liver. Also TF was lower and ferritin higher in AD. Multiple logistic regression backward analyses, performed to evaluate the effects of our biochemical variables upon the probability of developing AD, revealed that a one-unit TF serum-decrease increases the probability of AD by 80%, a one-unit albumin serum-decrease reduces this probability by 20%, and a one-unit increase of AST/ALT ratio generates a 4-fold probability increase. Patients who were carriers of the H63D mutation showed higher levels of iron, lower levels of TF and CP and higher CP/TF ratios, a panel resembling hemochromatosis. This picture was found neither in H63D non-carrier patients, nor in healthy controls. Our results suggest the existence of a link between Hfe mutations and iron abnormalities that increases the probability of developing AD when accompanied by a distress of the liver.
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PMID:Effects of hemochromatosis and transferrin gene mutations on iron dyshomeostasis, liver dysfunction and on the risk of Alzheimer's disease. 2151 9


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