Search Results (40)

Background/Objectives: The prevalence of the diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency of a genetic origin has not been previously assessed. A prospective population-based study was conducted in a sample of 200 healthy newborns aimed to determine the prevalence of DAO enzyme deficiency caused by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants of the AOC1 gene. Methods: Genotyping was performed in oral mucosa samples collected around 2 days after birth. The four more frequent SNPs, c.47C>T (rs10156191), c.995C>T (rs1049742), c.1990C>G (rs10449793), and c.691G>T (rs2052129), were analyzed. Results: DAO deficiency was present in 132 newborns, with a prevalence of 66% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59–73%). The rs10449793 variant showed a prevalence of 46%, followed by rs10156191 with a prevalence of 42.5%, and rs2052129 with a prevalence of 39.5%. The variant rs1049742 showed the lowest prevalence (9.5%). The frequency of one, two, three, or four SNPs was 23%, 23.5%, 10.5%, and 9%, respectively. In all fours SNP variants, heterozygous carriers were more frequent than homozygous carriers (19% homozygosity). Differences in the prevalence of DAO deficiency between males (68%, 66/96) and females (63.4%, 66/104) were not found (p = 0.885). The prevalence in Caucasian newborns was 66.5% (123/185), as compared with 60% (9/15) in Latin Americans (p = 0.821). Conclusions: This study carried out in healthy newborns indicates that there is a high prevalence (66%) of DAO deficiency of a genetic origin in the general population. Full article

Clostridium perfringens infection can induce necrotic enteritis and lead to significant economic loss to the chicken industry. In this study, a xylanase (CbXyn10C), which effectively promotes the growth of probiotics, and a protease, which degrades the biofilm of C. perfringens, were analyzed for their ability to alleviate C. perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. A total of 300 male AA chickens were divided into five treatment groups (control, no enzyme and no C. perfringens challenge; Cp, no enzyme, C. perfringens challenge; Xyn, CbXyn10C plus C. perfringens challenge; Xyn+Am, CbXyn10C+Amylase plus C. perfringens challenge; Xyn+Ap, CbXyn10C+Alkaline protease plus C. perfringens challenge). The C. perfringens CVCC 60102 was administered orally on a daily basis to the chickens from 14 to 20 days. In comparison with Cp, Xyn+Ap significantly reduced intestinal damage in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of chickens challenged with C. perfringens (p < 0.05). The enzymes, and particularly Xyn+Ap, notably enhanced the expression of key intestinal barrier genes, reduced the IL-6 level, and decreased the DAO (diamine oxidase) level. Not unexpectedly, feeding enzymes influenced the abundance of Lactobacillus and Butyricicoccus bacteria in the intestine. These results indicated that CbXyn10C and protease can be used to alleviate intestinal damage caused by C. perfringens infection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Histamine intolerance is primarily caused by a deficiency in the diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme at the intestinal level. The reduced histamine degradation in the gut leads to its accumulation in plasma, thereby causing multiple clinical manifestations, such as urticaria, diarrhea, headache, dyspnea, or tachycardia, among others. The dietary management of this food intolerance consists of the follow-up of a low-histamine diet, often combined with DAO supplementation. To date, around twenty studies have investigated the effectiveness of these dietary strategies in reducing the frequency and/or intensity of symptoms, with promising results. However, the limitations of these studies (small patient cohort, lack of control group, and short dietary intervention periods) highlight the need for more ambitiously designed research. Therefore, the main objective of this prospective, unicentric, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a low-histamine diet and/or DAO supplementation over a three-month period in improving symptoms of histamine intolerance. Additionally, the impacts of these dietary strategies on the intestinal microbiota composition, urinary profile of histamine metabolites, serum DAO activity, and plasma histamine levels will be assessed throughout the intervention. Methods: The trial will enroll 400 patients who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group, which will follow a low-histamine diet, or the control group, which will maintain their habitual dietary habits. Within each of these groups, participants will be further divided into four subgroups to receive either exogenous DAO enzyme supplementation (from porcine or plant sources, with the latter administered at two different dosages) or a placebo. Therefore, a total of eight distinct intervention groups will be considered. The comparison of these groups will allow the evaluation of the individual effects of the low-histamine diet or DAO enzyme supplementation, as well as their possible synergistic effect. Results: The results of this study should help to improve dietary recommendations for histamine-intolerant patients and ultimately enhance their quality of life. Full article

Edible legume sprouts have been proposed as a promising plant-based source of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which plays a key role in degrading histamine at an intestinal level and preventing the development of histamine intolerance symptoms. However, the temperature and humidity conditions required for seed germination can also favor the rapid growth of yeast and mold, potentially compromising sprout yield and quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different seed disinfection treatments on both the germination rate and DAO enzymatic activity in sprouts of four Leguminosae species. Seed disinfection with 70% ethanol for either 5 or 15 min slightly increased the germination rates of chickpea and soybean sprouts without affecting DAO activity, regardless of treatment duration. However, in lentil and green pea sprouts, ethanol disinfection caused a statistically significant reduction in histamine-degrading capacity. In contrast, treating seeds with sodium hypochlorite for 15 min increased germination rates by up to 14% and preserved DAO activity in all legume sprouts tested. These results indicate that incorporating a seed disinfection step during legume sprouting may affect both the DAO enzymatic activity and germination rate. Full article

Background: To assess the prevalence of diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AOC1 gene in a sample of patients with symptoms of insomnia. Methods: A total of 167 adult patients (>18 years of age) with symptoms of insomnia attended a specialized institute for healthy sleep, in Barcelona (Spain), between May and November 2023, and underwent genotyping analysis of the four most relevant SNP variants, including c.691G>7 (rs2052129), c.47C>T (rs10156191), c.995C>T (rs1049742), and c.1990C>G (rs1049793). Results: Genetic DAO deficiency was present in 138 patients, with a prevalence rate of 82.6% (95% CI 76–88.1%). Difficulties in staying asleep were the most common complaints in 88% of patients followed by trouble falling asleep in 60.5%. More than half of patients suffered from insomnia symptoms every day. Also, 99.4% reported daytime consequences of insomnia, with fatigue (79.6%), mood changes (72.5%), and impaired concentration in 70.1%. When patients were grouped by DAO-score, which reflected the number of heterozygous and homozygous SNPs variants, the group with a DAO-score ≥ 4 vs. 1 showed higher percentages of insomnia-related symptoms, in particular, trouble staying asleep and early morning awakening. These two symptoms were also more common in the presence of the c.1990C>G (rs1049793) variant. Conclusions: This preliminary real-world study presents novel evidence of a potential link between a DAO enzyme deficiency of a genetic origin and clinical symptoms of insomnia, which may suggest the potential benefit of DAO supplementation to improve the quality of sleep in these subjects. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06488027). Full article

Weaning is a challenging period for piglets, characterized by stress-related growth checks, compromised immunity, and gut dysbiosis. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), known for its rich content of antioxidants, has potential as a functional feed ingredient. This study investigates the effects of feeding fermented purslane (FP) on the growth performance, immune function, intestinal microbiota, and metabolic profiles of weaned piglets. Forty-eight weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups, with eight pens in each group and three pigs in each pen: a control diet (CON group) and a diet supplemented with 0.20% FP (FP group). The experiment lasted 28 days. The results show that FP supplementation did not affect the average daily feed intake (ADFI) but significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) during the initial 14 days post-weaning. FP supplementation decreased diarrhea occurrence, with a pronounced reduction from days 10 to 13 (p < 0.05). Immunologically, the FP group had a trend towards reduced serum IgA levels on day 14 (p < 0.10). Importantly, the serum concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 were significantly reduced on both days 14 and 28 post-weaning. The antioxidative analysis showed increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased catalase (CAT) activities on day 14 (p < 0.05). In addition, FP supplementation significantly decreased serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and D-lactate levels by day 28, indicating a potential improvement in gut integrity. Fecal microbiota assessment demonstrated a distinctive clustering of microbial communities between the FP and CON groups, with an increase in the abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Tyzzerella, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and a decrease in Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Subdoligranulum in the FP group (p < 0.05). Functional predictions suggested that the relative abundance of microbial butyrate synthesis enzymes (EC 2.7.2.7 and EC 2.3.1.19) was significantly enhanced by FP treatment. This modulation was further corroborated by elevated fecal butyrate levels (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with FP promotes early-growth performance and has beneficial effects on immune function and intestinal health in weaned piglets. The enhancements may be attributed to distinct microbiota compositional changes and targeted modulation of microbial butyrate metabolism, which are crucial for piglet post-weaning adaptation and overall health. Full article

D-arginine (D-Arg) can promote embryogenic callus (EC) proliferation and increase the rate of somatic embryo induction of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), yet the mechanism underlying the processes is incompletely understood. To investigate the mechanism, physiological responses of polyamines (PAs) [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm)] were investigated for D-Arg-treated litchi EC and enzyme activity related to polyamine metabolism, plant endogenous hormones, and polyamine- and embryogenic-related genes were explored. Results showed that the exogenous addition of D-Arg reduces the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) in EC, reduces the production of H₂O₂, promotes EC proliferation, and increases the (Spd + Spm)/Put ratio to promote somatic embryo induction. Exogenous D-Arg application promoted somatic embryogenesis (SE) by increasing indole-3-acetyl glycine (IAA-Gly), kinetin-9-glucoside (K9G), and dihydrozeatin-7-glucoside (DHZ7G) levels and decreasing trans-zeatin riboside (tZR), N-[(-)-jasmonoyl]-(L)-valine (JA-Val), jasmonic acid (JA), and jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (Ja-ILE) levels on 18 d, as well as promoting cell division and differentiation. The application of exogenous D-Arg regulated EC proliferation and somatic embryo induction by altering gene expression levels of the WRKY family, AP2/ERF family, C3H family, and C2H2 family. These results indicate that exogenous D-Arg could regulate the proliferation of EC and the SE induction of litchi by changing the biosynthesis of PAs through the alteration of gene expression pattern and endogenous hormone metabolism. Full article

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide. The diamine oxidase enzyme (DAO) is responsible for the histamine gastrointestinal degradation. Its deficient functioning may implicate an excess of histamine in the body. The excess of histamine (histamine intolerance, HIT) has been related with a growing number of diseases and pseudo-allergic symptomatology. However, data on the relationship between the DAO enzyme, HIT, and ADHD are lacking. The main objective of this pilot is to study the prevalence of the four most relevant SNP variants of the AOC1 gene affecting DAO enzyme functionality in a sample of patients diagnosed with ADHD attending child and adolescent mental health services. Methods: In a cohort of 303 participants, we measured the SNP variants of the AOC1 gene. Results: The prevalence of having at least one minor dysfunctional allele was 78.8%. No relationship between ADHD severity and DAO deficiency was found. However, some AOC1 gene variants associated with DAO deficiency were related to several meaningful medical comorbidities. Furthermore, we found a strong association between DAO activity and the intelligence quotient, particularly in working memory. Conclusions: Some SNP variants of the AOC1 gene associated with DAO deficiency are related to some medical comorbidities and cognitive dysfunction in ADHD children and adolescents. Studies including patients with other diagnoses and healthy controls and bigger samples are warranted to confirm our preliminary results. Full article

Background: Histamine intolerance manifests when there is an imbalance between the production of histamine and the body’s capacity to metabolise it. Within the gastrointestinal tract, diamine oxidase (DAO) plays a pivotal role in breaking down ingested histamine. Insufficient levels of DAO have been linked to various diseases affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, and digestive systems; some of these symptoms are evidenced in fibromyalgia syndrome. This underscores the crucial role of DAO in maintaining the histamine balance and highlights its association with diverse physiological systems and health conditions. The management of fibromyalgia commonly involves the use of psychotropic medications; however, their potential interactions with DAO remain not fully elucidated. Methods: This study delved into the influence of various psychotropic medications on DAO activity through in vitro experiments. Additionally, we explored their impact on the human intestinal cell line Caco-2, examining alterations in DAO expression at both the mRNA and protein levels along with DAO activity. Results: Notably, the examined drugs—sertraline, pregabalin, paroxetine, alprazolam, and lorazepam—did not exhibit inhibitory effects on DAO activity or lead to reductions in DAO levels. In contrast, citalopram demonstrated a decrease in DAO activity in in vitro assays without influencing DAO levels and activity in human enterocytes. Conclusions: These findings imply that a collaborative approach involving psychotropic medications and DAO enzyme supplementation for individuals with fibromyalgia and a DAO deficiency could offer potential benefits for healthcare professionals in their routine clinical practice. Full article

The growing interest in graphene oxide (GO) for different biomedical applications requires thoroughly examining its safety. Therefore, there is an urgent need for reliable data on how GO nanoparticles affect healthy cells and organs. In the current work, we adopted a comprehensive approach to assess the influence of GO and its polyethylene glycol-modified form (GO-PEG) under near-infrared (NIR) exposure on several biological aspects. We evaluated the contractility of isolated frog hearts, the activity of two rat liver enzymes–mitochondrial ATPase and diamine oxidase (DAO), and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells following direct exposure to GO nanoparticles. The aim was to study the influence of GO nanoparticles at multiple levels—organ; cellular; and subcellular—to provide a broader understanding of their effects. Our data demonstrated that GO and GO-PEG negatively affect heart contractility in frogs, inducing stronger arrhythmic contractions. They increased ROS production in C2C12 myoblasts, whose effects diminished after NIR irradiation. Both nanoparticles in the rat liver significantly stimulated DAO activity, with amplification of this effect after NIR irradiation. GO did not uncouple intact rat liver mitochondria but caused a concentration-dependent decline in ATPase activity in freeze/thaw mitochondria. This multifaceted investigation provides crucial insights into GOs potential for diverse implications in biological systems. Full article

Histamine intolerance arises when there is a disparity between the production of histamine and the body’s ability to break it down. In the gastrointestinal tract, the primary enzyme responsible for metabolizing ingested histamine is diamine oxidase (DAO), and a shortage of this enzyme has been associated with some diseases related to the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, and digestive systems, in addition to migraines. The treatment of migraines typically revolves around the utilization of both anti-migraine and anti-inflammatory drugs, but their interaction with DAO is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we examined the impact of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anti-migraine medications on DAO activity through in vitro experiments. We also investigated their effects on the human intestinal cell line Caco-2, assessing changes in DAO expression (both at the mRNA and protein levels) as well as DAO activity. The tested drugs, including ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, a combination of acetylsalicylic acid with paracetamol and caffeine, zolmitriptan, and sumatriptan, did not inhibit DAO activity or reduce their levels. However, naproxen reduced DAO protein levels in human enterocyte cultures while not affecting DAO activity. These results suggest that combining anti-inflammatory and anti-migraine drugs with DAO enzyme supplementation for migraine patients with DAO deficiency could be beneficial for healthcare professionals in their daily practice. Full article

Histamine intolerance (HIT) is a clinical condition caused by decreased intestinal degradation of ingested histamine, primarily due to reduced enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, leading to histamine accumulation and causing various clinical manifestations. The measurement of serum DAO is commonly used as the main diagnostic test for HIT, although its diagnostic use is still uncertain. In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the validity of DAO determination in patients with clinically suspected HIT. We measured DAO levels in 249 patients with suspected HIT and 50 healthy adult controls without HIT-related problems. Based on five clinical criteria, we divided patients into two groups: high (all five inclusion criteria; 41 patients) and low probability of HIT (≤4 inclusion criteria; 208 patients). Patients with a “high probability of HIT” had the lowest DAO (median: 8 U/mL, IQR: 6–10) in comparison to patients with a “low probability of HIT (median: 10 U/mL, IQR: 7–16, p = 0.0006) and healthy controls (median: 18 U/mL, IQR: 14–22, p < 0.0001). The specificity and sensitivity for DAO levels < 3/< 10 U/mL (manufacturer’s set cut-off) to discriminate between patients with ‘‘high probability of HIT’’ and healthy controls were 100%/92% and 2%/71%. On the other hand, the specificity and sensitivity to discriminate between patients with ‘‘high probability of HIT’’ and ‘‘low probability of HIT’’ were 97%/61% and 2%/71%, respectively. Serum DAO determination represents an additional asset to the diagnosis of HIT based on clinical evaluation and assessment, but the diagnosis should not solely rely on DAO measurements. Full article

Speer allergic tension-fatigue syndrome (SATFS) is a classic allergy syndrome characterized by allergy-like symptoms, muscle tension, headaches, chronic fatigue, and other particular behaviors that were initially described in the fifties. The particular behaviors displayed include symptoms such as hyperkinesis, hyperesthesia (i.e., insomnia), restlessness, and distractibility, among others. Interestingly, these symptoms are very similar to descriptions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide, which is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The clinical description of SATFS precedes the nomination of ADHD in 1960 by Stella Chess. In this conceptual paper, we stress that there is a gap in the research on the relationship between ADHD and allergic pathologies. The hypotheses of this conceptual paper are (1) SATFS is probably one of the first and best historical descriptions of ADHD alongside a common comorbidity (allergy) displayed by these patients; (2) SATFS (ADHD) is a systemic disease that includes both somatic and behavioral manifestations that may influence each other in a bidirectional manner; (3) The role of neuroinflammation and histamine is key for understanding the pathophysiology of ADHD and its frequent somatic comorbidities; (4) The deficiency of the diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme, which metabolizes histamine extracellularly, may play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Decreased DAO activity may lead to an accumulation of histamine, which could contribute to core ADHD symptoms and comorbid disorders. Further empirical studies are needed to confirm our hypotheses. Full article

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a new ranavirus species in the Iridoviridae family, whose high lethality and rapid spread have resulted in enormous economic losses for the aquaculture industry. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has been proven to possess multiple biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. This study was conducted to determine whether curcumin protected orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) from SGIV-induced intestinal damage by affecting the inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and intestinal microbiota. Random distribution of healthy orange-spotted groupers (8.0 ± 1.0 cm and 9.0 ± 1.0 g) into six experimental groups (each group with 90 groupers): Control, DMSO, curcumin, SGIV, DMSO + SGIV, and curcumin + SGIV. The fish administered gavage received DMSO dilution solution or 640 mg/L curcumin every day for 15 days and then were injected intraperitoneally with SGIV 24 h after the last gavage. When more than half of the groupers in the SGIV group perished, samples from each group were collected for intestinal health evaluation. Our results showed that curcumin significantly alleviated intestine damage and repaired intestinal barrier dysfunction, which was identified by decreased intestine permeability and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and increased expressions of tight junction proteins during SGIV infection. Moreover, curcumin treatment suppressed intestinal cells apoptosis and inflammatory response caused by SGIV and protected intestinal cells from oxidative injury by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which was related to the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. Moreover, we found that curcumin treatment restored the disruption of the intestinal microbiota caused by SGIV infection. Our study provided a theoretical basis for the functional development of curcumin in aquaculture by highlighting the protective effect of curcumin against SGIV-induced intestinal injury. Full article

Histamine intolerance occurs when there is an imbalance between histamine production and the capacity for histamine degradation. Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the main enzyme for the catabolism of ingested histamine degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and its deficiency has been linked to allergy-like symptoms. Psychostimulant drugs are commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but their interaction with DAO is not well characterized. In this work, we evaluated the effects of psychostimulant drugs (methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine) on in vitro DAO activity and in the human cell line of enterocytes (Caco-2), evaluating DAO expression (mRNA and protein) and DAO activity. Methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine did not repress the in vitro DAO activity. In addition, in Caco-2 cells, lisdexamfetamine promoted a strong upregulation of DAO mRNA levels, whereas methylphenidate tended to induce DAO activity. To sum up, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine treatments do not reduce DAO activity. These findings could be useful for physicians prescribing these two drugs to ADHD patients affected by DAO deficiency. Full article