Biomaterial Database

Antioxidant properties of geroprotective peptides of the pineal gland. 2007

L S Kozina, and A V Arutjunyan, and V Kh Khavinson

St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology of the North-Western Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 197110 St. Petersburg, Russia. lucagramaglia@email.it <lucagramaglia@email.it>

It was shown that peptide preparations from the pineal gland (epithalamin and epitalon) possess antioxidant properties exceeding in some cases the effects of the well-known scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the melatonin, which is also produced by the pineal gland. The methods used in our experiments in old rats included determination of total antioxidant and antiradical activities, as well as those of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase=SOD, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, etc.) in blood serum, liver and brain. It has been revealed that epithalamin (polipeptide preparation from bovine brain) and its active fragment, epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) along with their ability to stimulate melatonin production, have an antioxidant mechanism that is quite different from the action of melatonin. Epithalamin can be more beneficial than melatonin because the former not only produces direct antioxidant effects, but also is able to stimulate the expression of SOD, ceruloplasmin and other antioxidant enzymes. The possibility of oxidation chains by their interaction with different ROS by means of binding of transition metals (Fe(2+)) cannot also be excluded. Thus, the results of our experiments testify that the pineal gland peptides enhance the antioxidant defense system, which can contribute to their geroprotective properties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007279	Injections, Subcutaneous	Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin.	Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D009842	Oligopeptides	Peptides composed of between two and twelve amino acids.	Oligopeptide
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D010870	Pineal Gland	A light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain. The pineal gland secretes MELATONIN, other BIOGENIC AMINES and NEUROPEPTIDES.	Epiphysis Cerebri,Pineal Body,Corpus Pineale,Gland, Pineal,Pineal Bodies,Pineal Glands
D004334	Drug Administration Schedule	Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience.	Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D005979	Glutathione Peroxidase	An enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of 2 moles of GLUTATHIONE in the presence of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to yield oxidized glutathione and water.	Cytosolic Glutathione Peroxidase,Glutathione Lipoperoxidase,Selenoglutathione Peroxidase,Glutathione Peroxidase, Cytosolic,Lipoperoxidase, Glutathione,Peroxidase, Glutathione,Peroxidase, Selenoglutathione
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000975	Antioxidants	Naturally occurring or synthetic substances that inhibit or retard oxidation reactions. They counteract the damaging effects of oxidation in animal tissues.	Anti-Oxidant,Antioxidant,Antioxidant Activity,Endogenous Antioxidant,Endogenous Antioxidants,Anti-Oxidant Effect,Anti-Oxidant Effects,Anti-Oxidants,Antioxidant Effect,Antioxidant Effects,Activity, Antioxidant,Anti Oxidant,Anti Oxidant Effect,Anti Oxidant Effects,Anti Oxidants,Antioxidant, Endogenous,Antioxidants, Endogenous
D013482	Superoxide Dismutase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the reaction between SUPEROXIDES and hydrogen to yield molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme protects the cell against dangerous levels of superoxide.	Hemocuprein,Ag-Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Cobalt Superoxide Dismutase,Cu-Superoxide Dismutase,Erythrocuprein,Fe-Superoxide Dismutase,Fe-Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Iron Superoxide Dismutase,Manganese Superoxide Dismutase,Mn-SOD,Mn-Superoxide Dismutase,Ag Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Cu Superoxide Dismutase,Dismutase, Ag-Zn Superoxide,Dismutase, Cobalt Superoxide,Dismutase, Cu-Superoxide,Dismutase, Fe-Superoxide,Dismutase, Fe-Zn Superoxide,Dismutase, Iron Superoxide,Dismutase, Manganese Superoxide,Dismutase, Mn-Superoxide,Dismutase, Superoxide,Fe Superoxide Dismutase,Fe Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Mn SOD,Mn Superoxide Dismutase,Superoxide Dismutase, Ag-Zn,Superoxide Dismutase, Cobalt,Superoxide Dismutase, Fe-Zn,Superoxide Dismutase, Iron,Superoxide Dismutase, Manganese