1.Telomere length is a biomarker of cumulative oxidative stress, biologic age, and an independent predictor of survival and therapeutic treatment requirement associated with smoking behavior.
Babizhayev MA;Savel'yeva EL;Moskvina SN;Yegorov YE Am J Ther. 2011 Nov;18(6):e209-26. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e3181cf8ebb.
Globally, tobacco use is associated with 5 million deaths per annum and is regarded as one of the leading causes of premature death. Major chronic disorders associated with smoking include cardiovascular diseases, several types of cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung problems). Cigarette smoking (CS) generates a cumulative oxidative stress, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. Mainstream and side stream gas-phase smoke each have about the same concentration of reactive free radical species, about 1 × 10(16) radicals per cigarette (or 5 × 10(14) per puff). This effect is critical in understanding the biologic effects of smoke. Several lines of evidence suggest that cigarette smoke constituents can directly activate vascular reactive oxygen species production. In this work we present multiple evidence that CS provide the important risk factors in many age-related diseases, and is associated with increased cumulative and systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. The cited processes are marked by increased white blood cell (leucocytes, WBCs) turnover. The data suggest an alteration of the circulating WBCs by CS, resulting in increased adherence to endothelial cells.
2.Natural histamines.
Roseghini M Gen Pharmacol. 1976 Sep;7(4):221-5.
Twelve histamines have been so far identified in living animal tissues. The two reactive sites of the histamine molecule involved in the production of these derivatives are represented by the imino nitrogen of the nucleus and the amino group of the lateral chain. The ring imino nitrogen may be methylated, to form 3-methylhistamine, or conjugated with ribose to give origin to histamine riboside, ribotide and dinucleotide. The amino group of thelateral chain, in its turn, may be methylated (N'-methyl-histamine, N',N'-dimethylhistamine), conjugated with aliphatic acids (N'-imidazoleproprionylhistamine, N'-urocanylhistamine) or amino acids (beta-alanylhistamine or carcinine), and finally linked, through a methyl group, to the imidazole nucleus to give origin to imidazo-c-pyridine derivatives or cyclized histamines. The biosynthesis of the above natural histamines and their physiological significance are discussed.
3.Hydrolysis of carnosine and related compounds by mammalian carnosinases.
Pegova A;Abe H;Boldyrev A Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2000 Dec;127(4):443-6.
Comparative study of hydrolysis of carnosine and a number of its natural derivatives by human serum and rat kidney carnosinase was carried out. The rate of carnosine hydrolysis was 3-4-fold higher then for anserine and ophidine. The rate of homocarnosine, N-acetylcarnosine and carcinine hydrolysis was negligible by either of the enzymes used. Our data show that methylation, decarboxylation or acetylation of carnosine increases resistance of the molecule toward enzymatic hydrolysis. Thus, metabolic modification of carnosine may increase its half-life in the tissues.
