To determine the reductive process of extracellular dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), molecules (homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone, methionine, cysteine, and homoserine) were tested to identify those with the potential to reduce DHA to ascorbic acid (AA). Homocysteine (Hcy) was the most potent of the molecules tested. The efficacy of Hcy was compared with that of other molecules able to reduce D...

BACKGROUND This study investigated the effects of long term betaine supplementation on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL) in experienced strength trained men. METHODS Twenty-three subjects were matched for training experience (4.8 ± 2.3 years) and body fat percentage (BF%: 16.9 ± 8.0%), randomly assigned to either a placebo (PL; n = 12) or betaine group (BET; n...

Hieronim Jakubowski, Joanna Perła, Tomasz Twardowski, Mariusz Łacinski, Wiesław Trzeciak, Radosław Kaźmierski, and Anetta Undas, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ 07101, USA, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznań, Poland, Department of Biochemistry & Molecula...

We investigated the effects of various sulfur amino acids on the phosphorylation of proteins and the translocation of cytosolic compounds to cell membrane in stimulus-treated human neutrophils using specific monoclonal antibodies. D,L-homocysteine and D,L-homocysteine-thiolactone enhanced fMLP-induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins and the translocation of p47phox, p67phox, and rac to the ...

BACKGROUND Proinflammatory cytokines play key roles in atherogenesis and disease progression. Because hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, we hypothesized that homocysteine could be atherogenic by altering the expression of specific cytokines in vascular endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Northern blot and RNase protection assays showed that DL-ho...

AIMS To determine whether plasma homocysteine, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and factor II G20210A polymorphisms, factor VIII, and vWF are risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHOD Prospective comparison of 63 consecutive patients with central retinal vein occlusion and 63 age matched controls. Plasma homocysteine and vWF were estimated by ELISA, the ...

BACKGROUND Vitamin B6 may directly or indirectly play a role in oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of vitamin B6 status with cysteine, glutathione, and its related enzyme activities in mice with homocysteine-induced oxidative stress. DESIGN Four-week-old male BALB/c mice were weighed and divided into one o...