Antioxidant Properties of Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz)

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Oxidative Stress Research
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Oxidative stress contributes to chronic diseases, yet antioxidant therapies show limited efficacy.
• Pharmacologic nitric oxide (NO) has antioxidant effects, but physiological stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via shear stress is less understood.
• Non-invasive methods to enhance endogenous antioxidant capacity are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of periodic acceleration (pGz), a non-invasive technology increasing pulsatile shear stress, in upregulating cardiac eNOS and endogenous antioxidant capacity.
• To evaluate pGz's effects in normal mice and mouse models of high oxidative stress (Type 1 Diabetes, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy).

Main Methods:

• Utilized periodic acceleration (pGz) to non-invasively increase pulsatile shear stress on the endothelium.
• Assessed changes in cardiac eNOS protein expression and activity.
• Measured expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes: Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1), Catalase (CAT), and Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1).
• Evaluated nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Nrf2 and measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.

Main Results:

• pGz significantly increased cardiac eNOS protein expression and upregulated its activity.
• Application of pGz led to increased expression of GPX-1, CAT, and SOD1.
• Total cardiac antioxidant capacity was enhanced, accompanied by increased Nrf2 nuclear translocation.
• pGz effectively decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in both Type 1 Diabetes and mdx mouse models.

Conclusions:

• Periodic acceleration (pGz) is a novel non-pharmacologic approach to enhance endogenous antioxidant capacity.
• pGz effectively upregulates cardiac eNOS and boosts antioxidant enzyme expression, reducing oxidative stress.
• This technology holds potential for managing chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress.