G B Sajithlal’s research while affiliated with Central Leather Research Institute and other places

This report provides a new possible link between increased lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in diabetes. Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) have been well established as one of the major factors responsible for multiorgan damage seen in diabetes and aging. We report here that the interaction between lipid peroxidation products and the long-lived structural protein, collagen, results in the formation of products that are structurally or immunologically similar to AGEs. Enzyme-linked immunoassays revealed crossreactivity between anti-AGE antibodies and collagen incubated with linoleic acid/arachidonic acid for 4 weeks under oxidative conditions. Formation of AGEs from lipid oxidation products and collagen was further confirmed by the inhibitory effect of aminoguanidine. Similarly, incubation of collagen with an end product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), resulted in the formation of AGEs. It was also noted that the incubation of collagen with equimolar concentrations of glucose or linoleic acid/arachidonic acid resulted in the formation of almost similar amount of AGEs. Another interesting observation was that the level of AGEs correlated well with the crosslinking of collagen (r=0.93) and also with the intensity of fluorescence (ex: 390 nm/em: 460 nm) (r=0.99). However the rate of fluorescence development was observed at a faster rate than the formation of AGEs when the concentration of MDA was increased from 5 mM to 25/50 mM. Free radical scavengers failed to prevent lipid peroxidation-induced formation of AGEs. These results suggest that, in addition to reducing sugars, fatty acid oxidation products can also lead to the formation of products that are structurally similar to AGEs. The work presents a possible link between lipid peroxidation and diabetic complications, through AGEs. This study also suggests that the formation of AGEs is a possible explanation for lipid peroxide-induced crosslinking of collagen.

The present investigation was carried out to understand the effect of metal catalyzed oxidation on glycation and crosslinking of collagen. Tail tendons obtained from rats weighing 200-225 g were incubated with glucose (250 mM) and increasing concentrations of copper ions (5, 25, 50 and 100 microM) under physiological conditions of temperature and pH. Early glycation, crosslinking and late glycation (fluorescence) of collagen samples were analyzed periodically. Early glycation was estimated by phenol sulfuric acid method, and the crosslinking was assessed by pepsin and cyanogen bromide digestion. A concentration-dependent effect of metal ions on the rate of glycation and crosslinking of collagen was observed. Tendon collagen incubated with glucose and 100 microM copper ions showed 80% reduction in pepsin digestion within seven days, indicating extensive crosslinking, whereas collagen incubated with glucose alone for the same period showed only 7% reduction. The presence of metal ions in the incubation medium accelerated the development of Maillard reaction fluorescence on collagen, and the increase was dependent on the concentration of metal ions used. The metal chelator diethylene triamine penta-acetate significantly prevented the increase in collagen crosslinking by glucose and copper ions. Free radical scavengers benzoate and mannitol effectively prevented the increased crosslinking and browning of collagen by glucose. The results indicate that the metal catalyzed oxidation reactions play a major role in the crosslinking of collagen by glucose. It is also suggested that the prevention of increased oxidative stress in diabetes may prevent the accelerated advanced glycation and crosslinking of collagen.

A close association between increased oxidative stress and hyperglycemia has been postulated to contribute significantly to the accelerated accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and the cross-linking of collagen in diabetes mellitus. In the present work, we report the influence of curcumin, an efficient antioxidant, on the level of AGEs and the cross-linking of collagen in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were given curcumin (200 mg/kg body wt) orally for a duration of 8 weeks. The antioxidant status in serum and the level of AGEs, cross-linking and browning of collagen in tail tendons and skin were investigated. The oxidative stress observed in diabetic rats was reduced significantly by curcumin administration. Nonenzymic antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione were maintained at near normal values in curcumin-treated diabetic animals. Similarly, the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in diabetic serum was reduced significantly by curcumin. Accelerated accumulation of AGE-collagen in diabetic animals, as detected by ELISA, was prevented by curcumin. Extensive cross-linking of collagen in the tail tendon and skin of diabetic animals was also prevented to a greater extent by curcumin treatment. A correlation between the level of AGEs and collagen cross-linking was noted, suggesting the involvement of advanced glycation in cross-linking. It was also noted that the preventive effect of curcumin on the advanced glycation and cross-linking of collagen was more pronounced than its therapeutic effect. However, the Maillard reaction fluorescence in both tail and skin collagen remained unaltered by curcumin. This study confirms the significance of free radicals in the accumulation of AGEs and cross-linking of collagen in diabetes. It supports curcumin administration for the prevention of AGE-induced complications of diabetes mellitus.

Treatment of full-thickness wounds with A. vera, on rats resulted in increased biosynthesis of collagen and its degradation. A corresponding increase in the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was also observed. Elevated levels of lysyl oxidase also indicated increased crosslinking of newly synthesised collagen. The results suggest that A. vera influences the wound healing process by enhancing collagen turnover in the wound tissue.

Changes in ethylene production and polyuronides in pear fruit on and off the tree were investigated. In `Marguerite Marillat' fruit, flesh firmness changed little after the optimum time for harvesting (OTH). By contrast, firmness of `La France' fruit decreased gradually after OTH, reaching an average of 30 N for fruit left on the tree for 28 days after OTH. The amount of water-soluble polyuronides increased slightly during ripening on the tree. In both cultivars, the amount 28 days after OTH was less than one-third of that in fruit harvested at OTH and ripened off the tree. Ethylene production did not increase substantially until 28 and 14 days after OTH in `Marguerite Marillat' and `La France' fruit, respectively. Pears off the tree softened to less than 10 N independently of harvest date and cultivar. The amount of water-soluble polyuronides in fruit softened after harvest increased significantly from that at harvest. In both cultivars, the texture of fruit harvested at 14 days and 28 days after OTH and ripened did not become buttery and juicy. Those fruit had less water-soluble polyuronides than fruit which developed a buttery and juicy texture.

We have investigated the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on the crosslinking of collagen. The potential pathological significance of AGEs and the altered metabolism of ascorbic acid (ASA) in diabetes have prompted us to investigate the role of ASA in the crosslinking and advanced glycation of collagen. Rat tail tendons were incubated with ASA and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) under physiological conditions of temperature and pH, and the crosslinking and the level of AGEs were analyzed. Analysis of crosslinking was conducted by pepsin solubility and cyanogen bromide digestion. Level of AGEs was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies raised against AGE-ribonuclease. It was noted that ASA and DHA induced crosslinking of collagen and stimulated the formation of AGEs. It was also noted that these pathways were dependent on oxidative conditions. Similarly incubation of collagen with AGEs, prepared by the in vitro incubation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with glucose, also resulted in increased crosslinking. The extent of crosslinking was dependent on the duration of incubation. The novel finding of this study, which is in contrast to the earlier reports on glucose-induced crosslinking of collagen, was that AGEs-induced crosslinking of collagen was not inhibited by radical scavengers and the metal chelator. EDTA, whereas glucose-induced crosslinking of collagen was almost completely prevented by free radical scavengers. The increased fluorescence intensity observed in collagen incubated with AGEs was also not prevented by radical scavengers. Estimation of AGEs by ELISA revealed an increased accumulation of AGEs in collagen incubated with AGE-BSA. The inhibitory effect of aminoguanidine and aspirin on AGEs-induced modification of collagen, strongly suggests that the amino-carbonyl interaction between AGEs and collagen may play a key role in the crosslinking process. The results obtained in this study indicate that soluble AGEs can directly induce crosslinking of collagen and this process is independent of oxidative conditions. From these results it may be hypothesized that glucose, under oxidative conditions, reacts with proteins to form potentially reactive end products called AGEs. These AGEs, once formed, could induce crosslinking of collagen even in the absence of both glucose and oxygen.

The present study investigates the role of metal catalysed oxidation in the formation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). Rat tail tendon collagen was incubated with glucose (250 mM) and increasing concentrations of copper ions (5-500 microM) under physiological conditions of temperature and pH. After 1 and 3 weeks of incubation the level of AGEs in collagen samples were estimated by enzyme linked immunoassay, using antibodies raised against AGE ribonuclease. It was observed that the presence of metal ions significantly increased the rate of accumulation of AGEs. The increase was dependent on the concentration of metal ions present in the incubation medium. Free radical scavengers such as mannitol, benzoate, catalase, and the antiglycating agent aminoguanidine almost completely inhibited the formation of AGEs. Incubation of collagen with copper ions alone did not show any increase in crosslinking, as detected by cyanogen bromide digestion, and AGEs formation. Further it was also noted that glycoxidation, i.e., oxidation of glycated collagen, was the major pathway that leads to increased formation of AGEs. These results indicate that metal-catalyzed oxidation and free radicals play a major role in the formation of AGEs. This work also strongly suggests that increased oxidative stress in diabetes may accelerate the formation of AGEs and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Wound healing is a fundamental response to tissue injury that results in restoration of tissue integrity. This end is achieved mainly by the synthesis of the connective tissue matrix. Collagen is the major protein of the extracellular matrix, and is the component which ultimately contributes to wound strength. In this work, we report the influence of Aloe vera on the collagen content and its characteristics in a healing wound. It was observed that Aloe vera increased the collagen content of the granulation tissue as well as its degree of crosslinking as seen by increased aldehyde content and decreased acid solubility. The type I/type III collagen ratio of treated groups were lower than that of the untreated controls, indicating enhanced levels of type III collagen. Wounds were treated either by topical application or oral administration of Aloe vera to rats and both treatments were found to result in similar effects.

The positive influence of Aloe vera, a tropical cactus, on the healing of full-thickness wounds in diabetic rats is reported. Full-thickness excision/incision wounds were created on the back of rats, and treated either by topical application on the wound surface or by oral administration of the Aloe vera gel to the rat. Wound granulation tissues were removed on various days and the collagen, hexosamine, total protein and DNA contents were determined, in addition to the rates of wound contraction and period of epithelialization. Measurements of tensile strength were made on treated/untreated incision wounds. The results indicated that Aloe vera treatment of wounds in diabetic rats may enhance the process of wound healing by influencing phases such as inflammation, fibroplasia, collagen synthesis and maturation, and wound contraction. These effects may be due to the reported hypoglycemic effects of the aloe gel.

The influence of Aloe vera (L.) Burman f. on the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) components of the matrix in a healing wound was studied. Wound healing is a dynamic and complex sequence of events of which the major one is the synthesis of extracellular matrix components. The early stage of wound healing is characterized by the laying down of a provisional matrix, which is then followed by the formation of granulation tissue and synthesis of collagen and elastin. The provisional matrix or the ground substance consists of GAGs and proteoglycans (PGs), which are protein GAG conjugates. In the present work, we have studied the influence of Aloe vera on the content of GAG and its types in the granulation tissue of healing wounds. We have also reported the levels of a few enzymes involved in matrix metabolism. The amount of ground substance synthesized was found to be higher in the treated wounds, and in particular, hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulphate levels were increased. The levels of the reported glycohydrolases were elevated on treatment with Aloe vera, indicating increased turnover of the matrix. Both topical and oral treatments with Aloe vera were found to have a positive influence on the synthesis of GAGs and thereby beneficially modulate wound healing.