Alessandra Altomare

Novel therapeutic strategy to prevent chemotherapy-induced persistent sensory neuropathy by TRPA1 blockade

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe and painful adverse reaction of cancer treatment in patients that is little understood or treated. Cytotoxic drugs that cause CIPN exert their effects by increasing oxidative stress, which activates the ion channel TRPA1 expressed by nociceptors. In this study, we evaluated whether TRPA1 acted as a critical mediator of CIPN by bortezomib or oxaliplatin in a mouse model system. Bortezomib evoked a prolonged mechanical, cold, and selective chemical hypersensitivity (the latter against the TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate). This CIPN hypersensitivity phenotype that was stably established by bortezomib could be transiently reverted by systemic or local treatment with the TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031. A similar effect was produced by the oxidative stress scavenger α-lipoic acid. Notably, the CIPN phenotype was abolished completely in mice that were genetically deficient in TRPA1, highlighting its essential role. Administration of bortezomib or oxaliplatin, which also elicits TRPA1-dependent hypersensitivity, produced a rapid, transient increase in plasma of carboxy-methyl-lysine, a by-product of oxidative stress. Short-term systemic treatment with either HC-030031 or α-lipoic acid could completely prevent hypersensitivity if administered before the cytotoxic drug. Our findings highlight a key role for early activation/sensitization of TRPA1 by oxidative stress by-products in producing CIPN. Furthermore, they suggest prevention strategies for CIPN in patients through the use of early, short-term treatments with TRPA1 antagonists.

Protein lipoxidation: Detection strategies and challenges

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic lipid metabolism can give rise to reactive species that may covalently modify cellular or plasma proteins through a process known as lipoxidation. Under basal conditions, protein lipoxidation can contribute to normal cell homeostasis and participate in signaling or adaptive mechanisms, as exemplified by lipoxidation of Ras proteins or of the cytoskeletal protein vimentin, both of which behave as sensors of electrophilic species. Nevertheless, increased lipoxidation under pathological conditions may lead to deleterious effects on protein structure or aggregation. This can result in impaired degradation and accumulation of abnormally folded proteins contributing to pathophysiology, as may occur in neurodegenerative diseases. Identification of the protein targets of lipoxidation and its functional consequences under pathophysiological situations can unveil the modification patterns associated with the various outcomes, as well as preventive strategies or potential therapeutic targets. Given the wide structural variability of lipid moieties involved in lipoxidation, highly sensitive and specific methods for its detection are required. Derivatization of reactive carbonyl species is instrumental in the detection of adducts retaining carbonyl groups. In addition, use of tagged derivatives of electrophilic lipids enables enrichment of lipoxidized proteins or peptides. Ultimate confirmation of lipoxidation requires high resolution mass spectrometry approaches to unequivocally identify the adduct and the targeted residue. Moreover, rigorous validation of the targets identified and assessment of the functional consequences of these modifications are essential. Here we present an update on methods to approach the complex field of lipoxidation along with validation strategies and functional assays illustrated with well-studied lipoxidation targets.

Human serum albumin cysteinylation is increased in end stage renal disease patients and reduced by hemodialysis: mass spectrometry studies.

Abstract The aim of the present work was to monitor the covalent modifications of human serum albumin (HSA) in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) non-diabetic patients, before and after hemodialysis (HD), by direct infusion electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Human serum samples were collected from healthy subjects (n = 10, 20–60 yr) and age-matched ESRD patients (n = 8) before and after HD, purified by affinity chromatography and analyzed by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The deconvoluted spectra from healthy subjects were all characterized by three peaks attributed to non-glycated mercaptoalbumin (HSA-SH) and to the corresponding adducts with cysteine (HSA-Cys) and glucose (HSA-Glc); relative contents: mercaptoalbumin in both glycated and non-glycated form, HSA-SHt (74 ± 6%), HSA-Cys (26 ± 5%) and HSA-Glc (24 ± 3%). HSA isolated from ESRD patients before HD was characterized by a significant reduction of HSA-SHt (42 ± 7%), and by a concomitant increase of the HSA-Cys adduct (58 ± 7%). Hemodialysis significantly reduced the cysteinylated form (37 ± 7%) and restored HSA-SHt (63 ± 8%) in all the ESRD patients. The mechanism of thiol oxidation and cysteinylation was then studied by mass spectrometry, using LQQCPF as a model peptide and H2O2 as an oxidizing agent.

A carnosine intervention study in overweight human volunteers: bioavailability and reactive carbonyl species sequestering effect.

Carnosine is a natural dipeptide able to react with reactive carbonyl species, which have been recently associated with the onset and progression of several human diseases. Herein, we report an intervention study in overweight individuals. Carnosine (2 g/day) was orally administered for twelve weeks in order to evaluate its bioavailability and metabolic fate. Two carnosine adducts were detected in the urine samples of all subjects. Such adducts are generated from a reaction with acrolein, which is one of the most toxic and reactive compounds among reactive carbonyl species. However, neither carnosine nor adducts have been detected in plasma. Urinary excretion of adducts and carnosine showed a positive correlation although a high variability of individual response to carnosine supplementation was observed. Interestingly, treated subjects showed a significant decrease in the percentage of excreted adducts in reduced form, accompanied by a significant increase of the urinary excretion of both carnosine and carnosine-acrolein adducts. Altogether, data suggest that acrolein is entrapped in vivo by carnosine although the response to its supplementation is possibly influenced by individual diversities in terms of carnosine dietary intake, metabolism and basal production of reactive carbonyl species.

Mass spectrometric strategies for the identification and characterization of human serum albumin covalently adducted by amoxicillin: ex vivo studies.

This study addresses the detection and characterization of the modification of human serum albumin (HSA) by amoxicillin (AX) in ex vivo samples from healthy subjects under oral amoxicillin administration (acute intake of 1 g every 8 h for 48 h). To reach this goal, we used an analytical strategy based on targeted and untargeted mass spectrometric approaches. Plasma samples withdrawn before AX oral intake represented the negative control samples to test the method selectivity, whereas HSA incubated in vitro with AX was the positive control. Different MS strategies were developed, particularly (1) multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and precursor ion scan (PIS) using a HPLC system coupled to a triple quadrupole MS analyzer and (2) a dedicated data-dependent scan and a customized targeted MS/MS analysis carried out using a nano-LC system coupled to a high-resolution MS system (LTQ Orbitrap XL). Lys 190 was identified as the only modification site of HSA in the ex vivo samples. The AX adduct was identified and fully characterized by complementary targeted approaches based on triple quadrupole (MRM mode) and orbitrap (SIC mode) mass analyzers. The SIC mode also permitted the relative amount of AX-adducted HSA to be measured, ranging from 1 to 2% (6-12 μM) at 24 and 48 h after the oral intake. No adduct in any ex vivo sample was identified by the untargeted methods (PIS and data-dependent scan mode analysis). The results on one hand indicate that MS, in particular high-resolution MS, analysis represents a suitable analytical tool for the identification/characterization of covalently modified proteins/peptides; on the other hand, they give deeper insight into AX-induced protein haptenation, which is required to better understand the mechanisms involved in AX-elicited allergic reactions.

An in depth proteomic analysis based on ProteoMiner, affinity chromatography and nano-HPLC–MS/MS to explain the potential health benefits of bovine colostrum

Bovine colostrum (BC), the initial milk secreted by the mammary gland immediately after parturition, is widely used for several health applications. We here propose an off-target method based on proteomic analysis to explain at molecular level the potential health benefits of BC. The method is based on the set-up of an exhaustive protein data bank of bovine colostrum, including the minor protein components, followed by a bioinformatic functional analysis. The proteomic approach based on ProteoMiner technology combined to a highly selective affinity chromatography approach for the immunoglobulins depletion, identified 1786 proteins (medium confidence; 634 when setting high confidence), which were then clustered on the basis of their biological function. Protein networks were then created on the basis of the biological functions or health claims as input. A set of 93 proteins involved in the wound healing process was identified. Such an approach also permits the exploration of novel biological functions of BC by searching in the database the presence of proteins characterized by innovative functions. In conclusion an advanced approach based on an in depth proteomic analysis is reported which permits an explanation of the wound healing effect of bovine colostrum at molecular level and allows the search of novel potential beneficial effects.

Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Detoxification of 4-Hydroxynonenal : Methodological Aspects and Biological Consequences

Abstract 4‐Hydroxynonenal (HNE), an electrophilic end‐product deriving from lipid peroxidation, undergoes a heterogeneous set of biotransformations including enzymatic and non‐enzymatic reactions. The former mostly involve red‐ox reactions on the HNE oxygenated functions (phase I metabolism) and GSH conjugations (phase II) while the latter are due to the HNE capacity to spontaneously condense with nucleophilic sites within endogenous molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and phospholipids. The overall metabolic fate of HNE has recently attracted great interest not only because it clearly determines the HNE disposal, but especially because the generated metabolites and adducts are not inactive molecules (as initially believed) but show biological activities even more pronounced than those of the parent compound as exemplified by potent pro‐inflammatory stimulus induced by GSH conjugates. Similarly, several studies revealed that the non‐enzymatic reactions, initially considered as damaging processes randomly involving all endogenous nucleophilic reactants, are in fact quite selective in terms of both reactivity of the nucleophilic sites and stability of the generated adducts. Even though many formed adducts retain the expected toxic consequences, some adducts exhibit well‐defined beneficial roles as documented by the protective effects of sublethal concentrations of HNE against toxic concentrations of HNE. Clearly, future investigations are required to gain a more detailed understanding of the metabolic fate of HNE as well as to identify novel targets involved in the biological activity of the HNE metabolites. These studies are and will be permitted by the continuous progress in the analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of novel HNE metabolites as well as for proteomic analyses able to offer a comprehensive picture of the HNE‐induced adducted targets. On these grounds, the present review will focus on the major enzymatic and non‐enzymatic HNE biotransformations discussing both the molecular mechanisms involved and the biological effects elicited. The review will also describe the most important analytical enhancements that have permitted the here discussed advancements in our understanding of the HNE metabolic fate and which will permit in a near future an even better knowledge of this enigmatic molecule. Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available. HighlightsRecent advances of enzymatic and non‐enzymatic detoxification of HNE are described.Increasing importance in the biological activity of HNE metabolites.Good analytical strategies are available for elucidating HNE detoxification pathways.Critical balance between protective or damaging role of HNE.

Plasma carnosine, but not muscle carnosine, attenuates high-fat diet-induced metabolic stress

There is growing in vivo evidence that the dipeptide carnosine has protective effects in metabolic diseases. A critical unanswered question is whether its site of action is tissues or plasma. This was investigated using oral carnosine versus β-alanine supplementation in a high-fat diet rat model. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats received a control diet (CON), a high-fat diet (HF; 60% of energy from fat), the HF diet with 1.8% carnosine (HFcar), or the HF diet with 1% β-alanine (HFba), as β-alanine can increase muscle carnosine without increasing plasma carnosine. Insulin sensitivity, inflammatory signaling, and lipoxidative stress were determined in skeletal muscle and blood. In a pilot study, urine was collected. The 3 HF groups were significantly heavier than the CON group. Muscle carnosine concentrations increased equally in the HFcar and HFba groups, while elevated plasma carnosine levels and carnosine-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts were detected only in the HFcar group. Elevated plasma and urine N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine in HF rats was reduced by ∼50% in the HFcar group but not in the HFba group. Likewise, inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA was decreased by 47% (p < 0.05) in the HFcar group, but not in the HFba group, compared with HF rats. We conclude that plasma carnosine, but not muscle carnosine, is involved in preventing early-stage lipoxidation in the circulation and inflammatory signaling in the muscle of rats.

The secrets of Oriental panacea: Panax ginseng.

UNLABELLED The Panax ginseng root proteome has been investigated via capture with combinatorial peptide ligand libraries (CPLL) at three different pH values. Proteomic characterization by SDS-PAGE and nLC–MS/MS analysis, via LTQ-Orbitrap XL, led to the identification of a total of 207 expressed proteins. This quite large number of identifications was achieved by consulting two different plant databases: P. ginseng and Arabidopsis thaliana. The major groups of identified proteins were associated to structural species (19.2%), oxidoreductase (19.5%), dehydrogenases (7.6%) and synthases (9.0%). For the first time, an exploration of protein–protein interactions was performed by merging all recognized proteins and building an interactomic map, characterized by 196 nodes and 1554 interactions. Finally a peptidomic analysis was developed combining different in-silico enzymatic digestions to simulate the human gastrointestinal process: from 661 generated peptides, 95 were identified as possible bioactives and in particular 6 of them were characterized by antimicrobial activity. The present report offers new insight for future investigations focused on elucidation of biological properties of P. ginseng proteome and peptidome. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Ginseng is a traditional oriental herbal remedy whose use is very diffused in all the world for its numerous pharmacological effects. However, the exact mechanism of action of ginseng components, both ginsenosides and proteins, is still unidentified. So the common use of ginseng requires strict investigations to assess both its efficiency and its safety. Although many reports have been published regarding the pharmacological effects of ginseng, little is known about the biochemical pathways of root. Proteomics analysis could be useful to elucidate the physiological pathways. In this manuscript, an integrated approach to proteomics and peptidomics will usher in exploration of Panax ginseng proteins and proteolytic peptides, obtained by in-silico gastrointestinal digestion, characterized by antimicrobial action. The present research would pave the way for better knowledge of metabolic functions connected with ginseng proteome and provide with new information necessary to understand better antimicrobial activity of P. ginseng.

Advanced glycation end products of beta2-microglobulin in uremic patients as determined by high resolution mass spectrometry.

By using a high resolution top-down and bottom-up approach we identified and characterized the AGEs of beta2-microglobulin (β2-m) formed by incubating the protein in the presence of glucose and of the main reactive carbonyl species. Glucose induced glycation on the N-terminal residue, while glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) covalently reacted with Arg3. Carboxymethyl (CM-R) and imidazolinone (R-GO) derivatives were identified in the case of GO and carboxyethyl arginine (CE-R) and methyl-imidazolinone (R-MGO) for MGO. Interestingly, α,β-unsaturated aldehydes [4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE); 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE); acrolein (ACR)] did not induce any covalent modifications up to 100μM. The different reactivity of β2-m towards the different RCS was then rationalized by molecular modeling studies. The MS method was then applied to fully characterize the AGEs of β2-m isolated from the urine of uremic subjects. CM-R, CE-R and R-MGO were easily identified on Arg3 and their relative abundance in respect to the native protein determined by a semi-quantitative approach. Overall, the AGEs content of urinary β2-m ranged from 0.2 to 1% in uremic subjects. The results here reported offer novel insights and technical achievements for a potential biological role of AGEs-β2-m in pathological conditions.