Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 26719

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Guest Editor
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
Interests: antioxidant; vitamin C; inflammation; interleukin-22; NK cells; immune regulation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antioxidants, including vitamin C, are known to control the occurrence of diseases with enhanced immune function and direct anti-virus, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. For this reason, the utilization of vitamin C and antioxidants as good adjuvants that can enhance the efficacy of conventional treatments used to treat diseases and reduce side effects is increasing. In this respect, this Special Issue will introduce research regarding the effect of antioxidants, including vitamin C, on the regulation of the development of various diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and infectious diseases, especially COVID-19. Furthermore, effective methods for the prevention and treatment of diseases by antioxidants and vitamin C based on these findings will be introduced 

Prof. Dr. Jae Seung Kang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Vitamin C
  • Cancer
  • Inflammation
  • Infectious disease

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 6028 KiB  
Article
NXP032 Ameliorates Aging-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Impairment in Mice through Activation of Nrf2 Signaling
by Jae-Min Lee, Joo Hee Lee, Min Kyung Song and Youn-Jung Kim
Antioxidants 2022, 11(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11010130 - 7 Jan 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2865
Abstract
Aging is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to cognitive impairment, and an increase in oxidative stress as a major cause is an important factor. It has been reported that aging-related cognitive impairment is associated with increased oxidative damage in several brain regions during [...] Read more.
Aging is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to cognitive impairment, and an increase in oxidative stress as a major cause is an important factor. It has been reported that aging-related cognitive impairment is associated with increased oxidative damage in several brain regions during aging. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C plays an important role in preventing oxidative stress, but due to its unstable chemical properties, it is easily oxidized and thus the activity of antioxidants is reduced. In order to overcome this easily oxidized vulnerability, we developed NXP032 (vitamin C/DNA aptamer complex) that can enhance the antioxidant efficacy of vitamin C using an aptamer. We developed NXP032 (vitamin C/DNA Aptamin C320 complex) that can enhance the antioxidant efficacy of vitamin C using an aptamer. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of NXP032 on aging-induced cognitive decline, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage in 17-month-old female mice. NXP032 was orally administered at 200 mg/kg of ascorbic acid and 4 mg/kg of DNA aptamer daily for eight weeks. Before the sacrifice, a cognitive behavioral test was performed. Administration of NXP032 alleviated cognitive impairment, neuronal damage, microglia activity, and oxidative stress due to aging. We found that although aging decreases the Nrf2-ARE pathway, NXP032 administration activates the Nrf2-ARE pathway to increase the expression of SOD-1 and GSTO1/2. The results suggest that the new aptamer complex NXP032 may be a therapeutic intervention to alleviate aging-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease)
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20 pages, 17822 KiB  
Article
SVCT2 Overexpression and Ascorbic Acid Uptake Increase Cortical Neuron Differentiation, Which Is Dependent on Vitamin C Recycling between Neurons and Astrocytes
by Katterine Salazar, Francisca Espinoza, Gustavo Cerda-Gallardo, Luciano Ferrada, Rocío Magdalena, Eder Ramírez, Viviana Ulloa, Natalia Saldivia, Ninoschka Troncoso, María José Oviedo, María José Barahona, Fernando Martínez and Francisco Nualart
Antioxidants 2021, 10(9), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10091413 - 3 Sep 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3305
Abstract
During brain development, sodium–vitamin C transporter (SVCT2) has been detected primarily in radial glial cells in situ, with low-to-absent expression in cerebral cortex neuroblasts. However, strong SVCT2 expression is observed during the first postnatal days, resulting in increased intracellular concentration of vitamin C. [...] Read more.
During brain development, sodium–vitamin C transporter (SVCT2) has been detected primarily in radial glial cells in situ, with low-to-absent expression in cerebral cortex neuroblasts. However, strong SVCT2 expression is observed during the first postnatal days, resulting in increased intracellular concentration of vitamin C. Hippocampal neurons isolated from SVCT2 knockout mice showed shorter neurites and low clustering of glutamate receptors. Other studies have shown that vitamin C-deprived guinea pigs have reduced spatial memory, suggesting that ascorbic acid (AA) and SVCT2 have important roles in postnatal neuronal differentiation and neurite formation. In this study, SVCT2 lentiviral overexpression induced branching and increased synaptic proteins expression in primary cultures of cortical neurons. Analysis in neuroblastoma 2a (Neuro2a) and human subventricular tumor C3 (HSVT-C3) cells showed similar branching results. SVCT2 was mainly observed in the cell membrane and endoplasmic reticulum; however, it was not detected in the mitochondria. Cellular branching in neuronal cells and in a previously standardized neurosphere assay is dependent on the recycling of vitamin C or reduction in dehydroascorbic acid (DHA, produced by neurons) by glial cells. The effect of WZB117, a selective glucose/DHA transporter 1 (GLUT1) inhibitor expressed in glial cells, was also studied. By inhibiting GLUT1 glial cells, a loss of branching is observed in vitro, which is reproduced in the cerebral cortex in situ. We concluded that vitamin C recycling between neurons and astrocyte-like cells is fundamental to maintain neuronal differentiation in vitro and in vivo. The recycling activity begins at the cerebral postnatal cortex when neurons increase SVCT2 expression and concomitantly, GLUT1 is expressed in glial cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease)
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13 pages, 2255 KiB  
Article
Vitamin C Supplementation in Healthy Individuals Leads to Shifts of Bacterial Populations in the Gut—A Pilot Study
by Antonius T. Otten, Arno R. Bourgonje, Vera Peters, Behrooz Z. Alizadeh, Gerard Dijkstra and Hermie J. M. Harmsen
Antioxidants 2021, 10(8), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10081278 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 12190
Abstract
Gut microbes are crucial to human health, but microbial composition is often disturbed in a number of human diseases. Accumulating evidence points to nutritional modulation of the gut microbiota as a potentially beneficial therapeutic strategy. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may be of particular [...] Read more.
Gut microbes are crucial to human health, but microbial composition is often disturbed in a number of human diseases. Accumulating evidence points to nutritional modulation of the gut microbiota as a potentially beneficial therapeutic strategy. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may be of particular interest as it has known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated whether supplementation with high-dose vitamin C may favourably affect the composition of the gut microbiota. In this pilot study, healthy human participants received 1000 mg vitamin C supplementation daily for two weeks. Gut microbiota composition was analysed before and after intervention by performing faecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In total, 14 healthy participants were included. Daily supplementation of high-dose vitamin C led to an increase in the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05), whereas decreases were observed for Bacteroidetes (p < 0.01), Enterococci (p < 0.01) and Gemmiger formicilis (p < 0.05). In addition, trends for bacterial shifts were observed for Blautia (increase) and Streptococcus thermophilus (decrease). High-dose vitamin C supplementation for two weeks shows microbiota-modulating effects in healthy individuals, with several beneficial shifts of bacterial populations. This may be relevant as these bacteria have anti-inflammatory properties and strongly associate with gut health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease)
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17 pages, 3187 KiB  
Article
Neonatal Vitamin C and Cysteine Deficiencies Program Adult Hepatic Glutathione and Specific Activities of Glucokinase, Phosphofructokinase, and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase in Guinea Pigs’ Livers
by Vitor Teixeira, Ibrahim Mohamed and Jean-Claude Lavoie
Antioxidants 2021, 10(6), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060953 - 12 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3417
Abstract
Premature neonates are submitted to an early-life oxidative stress from parenteral nutrition, which is vitamin C (VC) deficient and induces low endogenous levels of glutathione. The oxidative stress caused by these deficiencies may permanently affect liver glycolysis and lipogenesis. This study evaluates the [...] Read more.
Premature neonates are submitted to an early-life oxidative stress from parenteral nutrition, which is vitamin C (VC) deficient and induces low endogenous levels of glutathione. The oxidative stress caused by these deficiencies may permanently affect liver glycolysis and lipogenesis. This study evaluates the short- and long-term effects of neonatal VC and cysteine deficient diets on redox and energy metabolism. Three-day-old Hartley guinea pigs from both sexes were given a regular or a deficient diet (VC, cysteine, or both) until week 1 of life. Half of the animals were sacrificed at this age, while the other half ate a complete diet until 12 weeks. Liver glutathione and the activity and protein levels of glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase were measured. Statistics: factorial ANOVA (5% threshold). At 1 week, all deficient diets decreased glutathione and the protein levels of glucokinase and phosphofructokinase, while cysteine deficiency decreased acetyl-CoA-carboxylase levels. A similar enzyme level was observed in control animals at 12 weeks. At this age, VC deficiency decreased glutathione, while cysteine increased it. Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase protein levels were increased, which decreased its specific activity. Early-life VC and cysteine deficiencies induce neonatal oxidative stress and an adult-like metabolism, while predisposing to increased lipogenic rates during adulthood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease)
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14 pages, 2980 KiB  
Article
The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Aptamin C on House Dust Mite Extract-Induced Inflammation in Keratinocytes via Regulation of IL-22 and GDNF Production
by Dahae Lee, Yejin Kim, Hyejung Jo, Cheolhyeon Go, Yoojin Jeong, Yoojin Jang, Dongmin Kang, Kwanjin Park, Yoon-Seong Kim and Jae Seung Kang
Antioxidants 2021, 10(6), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060945 - 11 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3690
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is characterized by eczemous lesions on the skin that manifest as severe itching and last a long time. AD is thought to be a response to local allergens, including house dust mites (HDMs). Aptamin C [...] Read more.
Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is characterized by eczemous lesions on the skin that manifest as severe itching and last a long time. AD is thought to be a response to local allergens, including house dust mites (HDMs). Aptamin C is a modified form of vitamin C comprised of aptamers (DNA fragments) that bind specifically to vitamin C and inhibit its oxidation, thereby increasing its stability and antioxidant effects. It is already known that vitamin C shows an anti-inflammatory effect on skin inflammation. Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of inflammatory diseases, including HDM-induced skin inflammation, suggesting that the antioxidant activity of Aptamin C could regulate inflammatory responses to HDMs in the skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and primary skin keratinocytes. Aptamin C not only inhibited HDM-induced proliferation of both type of cells, but suppressed HDM-induced increases in interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6 production by these cells. In addition, Aptamin C suppressed the production of IL-17 and IL-22 by T cells, which are closely associated with AD pathogenesis, as well as HDM-induced IL-22Rα expression. Aptamin C also reduced the production of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) by suppressing the interaction between IL-22 and IL-22Rα, as well as reducing T cell migration. Although HDM treatment markedly increased the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which is associated with itching in AD skin lesions, this increase was reduced by Aptamin C treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that Aptamin C can effectively regulate inflammatory lesions, such as AD, by regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines and GDNF induced by HDM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Disease)
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