Roya Babaei-Jadidi

Quantitative screening of advanced glycation endproducts in cellular and extracellular proteins by tandem mass spectrometry.

Glycation of proteins forms fructosamines and advanced glycation endproducts. Glycation adducts may be risk markers and risk factors of disease development. We measured the concentrations of the early glycation adduct fructosyl-lysine and 12 advanced glycation endproducts by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Underivatized analytes were detected free in physiological fluids and in enzymic hydrolysates of cellular and extracellular proteins. Hydroimidazolones were the most important glycation biomarkers quantitatively; monolysyl adducts (N(epsilon)-carboxymethyl-lysine and N(epsilon)-1-carboxyethyl-lysine) were found in moderate amounts, and bis(lysyl)imidazolium cross-links and pentosidine in lowest amounts. Quantitative screening showed high levels of advanced glycation endproducts in cellular protein and moderate levels in protein of blood plasma. Glycation adduct accumulation in tissues depended on the particular adduct and tissue type. Low levels of free advanced glycation endproducts were found in blood plasma and levels were 10-100-fold higher in urine. Advanced glycation endproduct residues were increased in blood plasma and at sites of vascular complications development in experimental diabetes; renal glomeruli, retina and peripheral nerve. In clinical uraemia, the concentrations of plasma protein advanced glycation endproduct residues increased 1-7-fold and free adduct concentrations increased up to 50-fold. Comprehensive screening of glycation adducts revealed the relative and quantitative importance of alpha-oxoaldehyde-derived advanced glycation endproducts in physiological modification of proteins-particularly hydroimidazolones, the efficient renal clearance of free adducts, and the marked increases of glycation adducts in diabetes and uraemia-particularly free advanced glycation endproducts in uraemia. Increased levels of these advanced glycation endproducts were associated with vascular complications in diabetes and uraemia.

Activation of NF-E2-related factor-2 reverses biochemical dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycemia linked to vascular disease

OBJECTIVE—Sulforaphane is an activator of transcription factor NF-E2–related factor-2 (nrf2) that regulates gene expression through the promoter antioxidant response element (ARE). Nrf2 regulates the transcription of a battery of protective and metabolic enzymes. The aim of this study was to assess whether activation of nrf2 by sulforaphane in human microvascular endothelial cells prevents metabolic dysfunction in hyperglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Human microvascular HMEC-1 endothelial cells were incubated in low and high glucose concentrations (5 and 30 mmol/l, respectively), and activation of nrf2 was assessed by nuclear translocation. The effects of sulforaphane on multiple pathways of biochemical dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, hexosamine pathway, protein kinase C (PKC) pathway, and increased formation of methylglyoxal were assessed. RESULTS—Activation of nrf2 by sulforaphane induced nuclear translocation of nrf2 and increased ARE-linked gene expression, for example, three- to fivefold increased expression of transketolase and glutathione reductase. Hyperglycemia increased the formation of ROS—an effect linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and prevented by sulforaphane. ROS formation was increased further by knockdown of nrf2 and transketolase expression. This also abolished the counteracting effect of sulforaphane, suggesting mediation by nrf2 and related increase of transketolase expression. Sulforaphane also prevented hyperglycemia-induced activation of the hexosamine and PKC pathways and prevented increased cellular accumulation and excretion of the glycating agent methylglyoxal. CONCLUSIONS—We conclude that activation of nrf2 may prevent biochemical dysfunction and related functional responses of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycemia in which increased expression of transketolase has a pivotal role.

Degradation products of proteins damaged by glycation, oxidation and nitration in clinical type 1 diabetes

Aims/hypothesisHyperglycaemia in diabetes is associated with increased glycation, oxidative stress and nitrosative stress. Proteins modified consequently contain glycation, oxidation and nitration adduct residues, and undergo cellular proteolysis with release of corresponding free adducts. These free adducts leak into blood plasma for eventual renal excretion. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive quantitative analysis of protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adduct residues in plasma protein and haemoglobin as well as of free adducts in plasma and urine to quantify increased protein damage and flux of proteolytic degradation products in diabetes.MethodsType 1 diabetic patients (n=21) and normal healthy control subjects (n=12) were studied. Venous blood samples, with heparin anticoagulant, and 24-h urine samples were taken. Samples were analysed for protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adducts by a quantitative comprehensive screening method using liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection.ResultsIn type 1 diabetic patients, the concentrations of protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adduct residues increased up to three-fold in plasma protein and up to one-fold in haemoglobin, except for decreases in pentosidine and 3-nitrotyrosine residues in haemoglobin when compared with normal control subjects. In contrast, the concentrations of protein glycation and oxidation free adducts increased up to ten-fold in blood plasma, and urinary excretion increased up to 15-fold in diabetic patients.Conclusions/interpretationWe conclude that there are profound increases in proteolytic products of glycated and oxidised proteins in diabetic patients, concurrent with much lower increases in protein glycation and oxidation adduct residues.

Profound Mishandling of Protein Glycation Degradation Products in Uremia and Dialysis

The aim of this study was to define the severe deficits of protein glycation adduct clearance in chronic renal failure and elimination in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) therapy using a liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection method. Physiologic proteolysis of proteins damaged by glycation, oxidation, and nitration forms protein glycation, oxidation, and nitration free adducts that are released into plasma for urinary excretion. Inefficient elimination of these free adducts in uremia may lead to their accumulation. Patients with mild uremic chronic renal failure had plasma glycation free adduct concentrations increased up to five-fold associated with a decline in renal clearance. In patients with ESRD, plasma glycation free adducts were increased up to 18-fold on PD and up to 40-fold on HD. Glycation free adduct concentrations in peritoneal dialysate increased over 2- to 12-h dwell time, exceeding the plasma levels markedly. Plasma glycation free adducts equilibrated rapidly with dialysate of HD patients, with both plasma and dialysate concentrations decreasing during a 4-h dialysis session. It is concluded that there are severe deficits of protein glycation free adduct clearance in chronic renal failure and in ESRD on PD and HD therapy.

FBXW7 influences murine intestinal homeostasis and cancer, targeting Notch, Jun, and DEK for degradation

The E3 ubiquitin ligase component FBXW7 modulates homeostasis and inhibits tumorigenesis in the murine intestine.

Embryonic NANOG Activity Defines Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Modulates through AP1‐ and TCF‐dependent Mechanisms

Embryonic NANOG (NANOG1) is considered as an important regulator of pluripotency while NANOGP8 (NANOG‐pseudogene) plays a role in tumorigenesis. Herein, we show NANOG is expressed from both NANOG1 and NANOGP8 in human colorectal cancers (CRC). Enforced NANOG1‐expression increases clonogenic potential and tumor formation in xenograft models, although it is expressed only in a small subpopulation of tumor cells and is colocalized with endogenous nuclear β‐cateninHigh. Moreover, single NANOG1‐CRCs form spherical aggregates, similar to the embryoid body of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and express higher levels of stem‐like Wnt‐associated target genes. Furthermore, we show that NANOG1‐expression is positively regulated by c‐JUN and β‐catenin/TCF4. Ectopic expression of c‐Jun in murine ApcMin/+‐ESCs results in the development of larger xenograft tumors with higher cell density compared to controls. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that c‐JUN binds to the NANOG1‐promoter via the octamer M1 DNA element. Collectively, our data suggest that β‐Catenin/TCF4 and c‐JUN together drive a subpopulation of CRC tumor cells that adopt a stem‐like phenotype via the NANOG1‐promoter. STEM Cells2012;30:2076–2087

The Links between Transcription, β-catenin/JNK Signaling, and Carcinogenesis

Interactions between transcription and signaling are fundamentally important for understanding both the structure and function of genetic pathways and their role in diseases such as cancer. The finding that β-catenin/TCF4 and JNK/c-Jun cooperate has important implications in carcinogenesis. Previously, we found that binding of c-Jun and β-catenin/TCF4 to the c-jun promoter is dependent upon JNK activity, thus one role for this complex is to contribute to the repression and/or activation of genes that may mediate cell maintenance, proliferation, differentiation, and death, whereas deregulation of these signals may contribute to carcinogenesis. Here we address the functional links reported between activated β-catenin/JNK signaling pathways, their component genes, and their common targets, and discuss how alterations in the properties of these genes lead to the development of cancer. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(8):1189–96)

Serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1) inhibition as a potential novel targeted therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer

Angiogenesis is required for tumour growth and is induced principally by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). VEGF-A pre-mRNA is alternatively spliced at the terminal exon to produce two families of isoforms, pro- and anti-angiogenic, only the former of which is upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa). In renal epithelial cells and colon cancer cells, the choice of VEGF splice isoforms is controlled by the splicing factor SRSF1, phosphorylated by serine–arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1). Immunohistochemistry staining of human samples revealed a significant increase in SRPK1 expression both in prostate intra-epithelial neoplasia lesions as well as malignant adenocarcinoma compared with benign prostate tissue. We therefore tested the hypothesis that the selective upregulation of pro-angiogenic VEGF in PCa may be under the control of SRPK1 activity. A switch in the expression of VEGF165 towards the anti-angiogenic splice isoform, VEGF165b, was seen in PC-3 cells with SRPK1 knockdown (KD). PC-3 SRPK1-KD cells resulted in tumours that grew more slowly in xenografts, with decreased microvessel density. No effect was seen as a result of SRPK1-KD on growth, proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities of PC-3 cells in vitro. Small-molecule inhibitors of SRPK1 switched splicing towards the anti-angiogenic isoform VEGF165b in PC-3 cells and decreased tumour growth when administered intraperitoneally in an orthotopic mouse model of PCa. Our study suggests that modulation of SRPK1 and subsequent inhibition of tumour angiogenesis by regulation of VEGF splicing can alter prostate tumour growth and supports further studies for the use of SRPK1 inhibition as a potential anti-angiogenic therapy in PCa.

High-dose thiamine therapy counters dyslipidemia and advanced glycation of plasma protein in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Abstract: The streptozotocin‐induced (STZ) diabetic rat experimental model of diabetes on insulin maintenance therapy exhibits dyslipidemia, mild thiamine deficiency, and increased plasma protein advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The reversal of thiamine deficiency by high‐dose thiamine and S‐benzoylthiamine monophosphate (benfotiamine) prevented the development of incipient nephropathy. Recently, we reported that high‐dose thiamine (but not benfotiamine) countered diabetic dyslipidemia. To understand further the differences between the effects of thiamine and benfotiamine therapy, we quantified the levels of the AGEs in plasma protein. We found hydroimidazolone AGE residues derived from glyoxal and methylglyoxal, G‐H1 and MG‐H1, were increased 115% and 68% in STZ diabetic rats, with respect to normal controls, and were normalized by both thiamine and benfotiamine; whereas N‐carboxymethyl‐lysine (CML) and N‐carboxyethyl‐lysine (CEL) residues were increased 74% and 118% in STZ diabetic rats and were normalized by thiamine only. The lack of effect of benfotiamine on plasma CML and CEL residue concentrations suggests there may be important precursors of plasma protein CML and CEL residues other than glyoxal and methylglyoxal. These are probably lipid‐derived aldehydes.

Concise Review: Emerging Drugs Targeting Epithelial Cancer Stem‐Like Cells

Increasing evidence suggests that cancer cell populations contain a small proportion of cells that display stem‐like cell properties and which may be responsible for overall tumor maintenance. These cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) appear to have unique tumor‐initiating ability and innate survival mechanisms that allow them to resist cancer therapies, consequently promoting relapses. Selective targeting of CSCs may provide therapeutic benefit and several recent reports have indicated this may be possible. In this article, we review drugs targeting CSCs, in selected epithelial cell‐derived cancers. Stem Cells 2017;35:839–850