Krisztina Kupai

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors: A critical appraisal of design principles and proposed therapeutic utility

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in tissue remodelling associated with various physiological and pathological processes, such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, tissue repair, arthritis, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic inflammation and cancer metastasis. As a result, MMPs are considered to be viable drug targets in the therapy of these diseases. Despite the high therapeutic potential of MMP inhibitors (MMPIs), all clinical trials have failed to date, except for doxycycline for periodontal disease. This can be attributed to (i) poor selectivity of the MMPIs, (ii) poor target validation for the targeted therapy and (iii) poorly defined predictive preclinical animal models for safety and efficacy. Lessons from previous failures, such as recent discoveries of oxidative/nitrosative activation and phosphorylation of MMPs, as well as novel non-matrix related intra- and extracellular targets of MMP, give new hope for MMPI development for both chronic and acute diseases. In this article we critically review the major structural determinants of the selectivity and the milestones of past design efforts of MMPIs where 2-/3-dimensional structure-based methods were intensively applied. We also analyse the in vitro screening and preclinical/clinical pharmacology approaches, with particular emphasis on drawing conclusions on how to overcome efficacy and safety problems through better target validation and design of preclinical studies.

Matrix metalloproteinase activity assays: Importance of zymography.

INTRODUCTION Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases capable of degrading extracellular matrix, including the basement membrane. MMPs are associated with various physiological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue repair. Moreover, due to the novel non-matrix related intra- and extracellular targets of MMPs, dysregulation of MMP activity has been implicated in a number of acute and chronic pathological processes, such as arthritis, acute myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammation, and cancer metastasis. MMPs are considered as viable drug targets in the therapy of the above diseases. METHODS For the development of selective MMP inhibitor molecules, reliable methods are necessary for target validation and lead development. Here, we discuss the major methods used for MMP assays, focusing on substrate zymography. We highlight some problems frequently encountered during sample preparations, electrophoresis, and data analysis of zymograms. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Zymography is a widely used technique to study extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, such as MMPs, from tissue extracts, cell cultures, serum or urine. This simple and sensitive technique identifies MMPs by the degradation of their substrate and by their molecular weight and therefore helps to understand the widespread role of MMPs in different pathologies and cellular pathways.

Cholesterol diet-induced hyperlipidemia impairs the cardioprotective effect of postconditioning: role of peroxynitrite

The aim of the present study was to investigate if hyperlipidemia interferes with the infarct size-limiting effect of postconditioning and to study the involvement of peroxynitrite in this phenomenon. Rats were fed a 2% cholesterol-enriched or normal diet for 12 wk. Infarct size by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was measured in hearts isolated from both groups and subjected to 30 min coronary occlusion followed by 120 min reperfusion with or without the postconditioning protocol induced by six cycles of 10 s coronary occlusion and 10 s reperfusion at the onset of the reperfusion. Postconditioning significantly decreased infarct size in the normolipidemic but not in the hyperlipidemic group. Postconditioning increased cardiac 3-nitrotyrosine concentration (a marker for peroxynitrite formation) in the normal but not in the cholesterol-fed group when measured at the 5th min of reperfusion. Next, we tested if the postconditioning-induced acute increase in peroxynitrite is involved in the cardioprotection in normolipidemic animals in separate experiments. Postconditioning failed to decrease infarct size in the presence of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-[4-sulfonatophenyl]-porphyrinato-iron [III] (20 mg/l) in normolipidemic animals. We conclude that an early increase in peroxynitrite after postconditioning plays a role in cardioprotection. Furthermore, hyperlipidemia blocks the cardioprotective effect of postconditioning at least in part via deterioration of the postconditioning-induced early increase in peroxynitrite formation.

The anti-inflammatory effects of methane.

Objective:Gastrointestinal methane generation has been demonstrated in various stress conditions, but it is not known whether nonasphyxiating amounts have any impact on the mammalian pathophysiology. We set out to characterize the effects of exogenous methane administration on the process of inflammatory events arising after reoxygenation in a large animal model of ischemia–reperfusion. Design:A randomized, controlled in vivo animal study. Setting:A university research laboratory. Subjects:Inbred beagle dogs (12.7 6 2 kg). Interventions:Sodium pentobarbital-anesthetized animals were randomly assigned to sham-operated or ischemia–reperfusion groups, where superior mesenteric artery occlusion was maintained for 1 hr and the subsequent reperfusion was monitored for 3 hrs. For 5 mins before reperfusion, the animals were mechanically ventilated with normoxic artificial air with or without 2.5% methane. Biological responses to methane–oxygen respirations were defined in pilot rat studies and assay systems were used with xanthine oxidase and activated canine granulocytes to test the in vitro bioactivity potential of different gas concentrations. Measurements and Main Results:The macrohemodynamics and small intestinal pCO2 gap changes were recorded and peripheral blood samples were taken for plasma nitrite/nitrate and myeloperoxidase analyses. Tissue superoxide and nitrotyrosine levels and myeloperoxidase activity changes were determined in intestinal biopsy samples; structural mucosal damage was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Methane inhalation did not influence the macrohemodynamics but significantly reduced the magnitude of the tissue damage and the intestinal pCO2 gap changes after reperfusion. Furthermore, the plasma and mucosal myeloperoxidase activity and the intestinal superoxide and nitrotyrosine levels were reduced, whereas the plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations were increased. Additionally, methane effectively and specifically inhibited leukocyte activation in vitro. Conclusions:These data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory profile of methane. The study provides evidence that exogenous methane modulates leukocyte activation and affects key events of ischemia–reperfusion-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and is therefore of potential therapeutic interest in inflammatory pathologies. (Crit Care Med 2012; 40:–1278)

Measurement of myocardial infarct size in preclinical studies.

Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion results in tissue injury termed ischemia/reperfusion injury which is characterized by decreased myocardial contractile function, occurrence of arrhythmias, and development of tissue necrosis (infarction). These pathologies are all relevant as clinical consequences of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and they are also important as experimental correlates and endpoints. The most critical determinant of acute and long-term mortality after myocardial infarction is the volume of the infarcted tissue. Therefore, development of cardioprotective therapies aims at reducing the size of the infarct developing due to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Different techniques are available to measure myocardial infarct size in humans and in experimental settings, however, accurate determination of the extent of infarction is necessary to evaluate interventions that may delay the onset of necrosis and/or limit the total extent of infarct size during ischemia/reperfusion. This paper highlights recent advances of the different techniques to measure infarct size.

Cholesterol diet leads to attenuation of ischemic preconditioning-induced cardiac protection: the role of connexin 43

Cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning (IP) was abolished in connexin 43 (Cx43)-deficient mice due to loss of Cx43 located in mitochondria rather than at the sarcolemma. IP is lost in hyperlipidemic rat hearts as well. Since changes in mitochondrial Cx43 in hyperlipidemia have not yet been analyzed, we determined total and mitochondrial Cx43 levels in male Wistar rats fed a laboratory chow enriched with 2% cholesterol or normal chow for 12 wk. Hearts were isolated and perfused according to Langendorff. After a 10-min perfusion, myocardial tissue cholesterol, superoxide, and nitrotyrosine contents were measured and Cx43 content in whole heart homogenate and a mitochondrial fraction determined. In the cholesterol-fed group, tissue cholesterol and superoxide formation was increased (P < 0.05), while total Cx43 content remained unchanged. Mitochondrial total and dephosphorylated Cx43 content decreased. Hearts were subjected to an IP protocol (3 × 5 min ischemia-reperfusion) or time-matched aerobic perfusion followed by 30-min global ischemia and 5-min reperfusion. IP reduced infarct size in normal but not in cholesterol-fed rats. At 5-min reperfusion following 30-min global ischemia, the total and dephosphorylated mitochondrial Cx43 content was increased, which was abolished by IP in both normal and high-cholesterol diet. In conclusion, loss of cardioprotection by IP in hyperlipidemia is associated with a redistribution of both sarcolemmal and mitochondrial Cx43.

Role of iNOS and peroxynitrite-matrix metalloproteinase-2 signaling in myocardial late preconditioning in rats

We have previously shown that the inhibition of myocardial nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) signaling by early preconditioning (PC) is involved in its cardioprotective effect. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the role of NO and peroxynitrite-MMP signaling in the development of late PC. PC was performed by five consecutive cycles of 4-min coronary occlusion and 4-min reperfusion in anesthetized rats in vivo. Twenty-four hours later, hearts were subjected to a 30-min coronary occlusion followed by 180-min reperfusion to measure infarct size. In separate experiments, heart tissue was sampled to measure biochemical parameters before and 3, 6, 12, or 24 h after the PC protocol, respectively. Late PC decreased infarct size, increased cardiac inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity and gene expression, and decreased SOD activity at 24 h significantly compared with sham-operated controls. Late PC increased cardiac superoxide levels significantly at 24 h; however, it did not change cardiac NO levels. Cardiac peroxynitrite levels were significantly decreased. Downstream cellular targets of peroxynitrite, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were decreased in the late PC group at 24 h compared with the sham-operated group. To verify if PC-induced inhibition of MMPs had a causative role in the reduction of infarct size, in separate experiments, we measured infarct size after the pharmacological inhibition of MMPs by ilomastat and found a significant reduction of infarct size compared with the vehicle-treated group. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration that the inhibition of cardiac peroxynitrite-MMP signaling contributes to cardioprotection by late PC and that pharmacological inhibition of MMPs is able to reduce infarct size in vivo. Furthermore, increased expression of iNOS may play a role in the development of late PC; however, increased iNOS activity does not lead to increased NO production in late PC.

Cardiac capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves regulate myocardial relaxation via S-nitrosylation of SERCA: role of peroxynitrite

Sensory neuropathy develops in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, dyslipidemia), but its pathological consequences in the heart are unclear. We have previously shown that systemic sensory chemodenervation by capsaicin leads to impaired myocardial relaxation and diminished cardiac nitric oxide (NO) content. Here we examined the mechanism of diminished NO formation and if it may lead to a reduction of peroxynitrite (ONOO−)‐induced S‐nitrosylation of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA2a).

Experimental Diabetes Mellitus in Different Animal Models

Animal models have historically played a critical role in the exploration and characterization of disease pathophysiology and target identification and in the evaluation of novel therapeutic agents and treatments in vivo. Diabetes mellitus disease, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood glucose levels for a prolonged time. To avoid late complications of diabetes and related costs, primary prevention and early treatment are therefore necessary. Due to its chronic symptoms, new treatment strategies need to be developed, because of the limited effectiveness of the current therapies. We overviewed the pathophysiological features of diabetes in relation to its complications in type 1 and type 2 mice along with rat models, including Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats, BB rats, LEW 1AR1/-iddm rats, Goto-Kakizaki rats, chemically induced diabetic models, and Nonobese Diabetic mouse, and Akita mice model. The advantages and disadvantages that these models comprise were also addressed in this review. This paper briefly reviews the wide pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with the evaluation and predictive validation of these models as ideal animal models for preclinical assessments and discovering new drugs and therapeutic agents for translational application in humans.

Dietary red palm oil supplementation reduces myocardial infarct size in an isolated perfused rat heart model

Background and AimsRecent studies have shown that dietary red palm oil (RPO) supplementation improves functional recovery following ischaemia/reperfusion in isolated hearts. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary RPO supplementation on myocardial infarct size after ischaemia/reperfusion injury. The effects of dietary RPO supplementation on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) activation and PKB/Akt phosphorylation were also investigated.Materials and methodsMale Wistar rats were divided into three groups and fed a standard rat chow diet (SRC), a SRC supplemented with RPO, or a SRC supplemented with sunflower oil (SFO), for a five week period, respectively. After the feeding period, hearts were excised and perfused on a Langendorff perfusion apparatus. Hearts were subjected to thirty minutes of normothermic global ischaemia and two hours of reperfusion. Infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Coronary effluent was collected for the first ten minutes of reperfusion in order to measure MMP2 activity by gelatin zymography.ResultsDietary RPO-supplementation decreased myocardial infarct size significantly when compared to the SRC-group and the SFO-supplemented group (9.1 ± 1.0% versus 30.2 ± 3.9% and 27.1 ± 2.4% respectively). Both dietary RPO- and SFO-supplementation were able to decrease MMP2 activity when compared to the SRC fed group. PKB/Akt phosphorylation (Thr 308) was found to be significantly higher in the dietary RPO supplemented group when compared to the SFO supplemented group at 10 minutes into reperfusion. There was, however, no significant changes observed in ERK phosphorylation.ConclusionsDietary RPO-supplementation was found to be more effective than SFO-supplementation in reducing myocardial infarct size after ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Both dietary RPO and SFO were able to reduce MMP2 activity, which suggests that MMP2 activity does not play a major role in protection offered by RPO. PKB/Akt phosphorylation may, however, be involved in RPO mediated protection.