Copper homeostasis and cuproptosis in health and disease

Role and mechanisms of cuproptosis in the pathogenesis of Wilson's disease (Review)

Copper, an indispensable trace element in living organisms, plays a pivotal role in human physiological processes. Wilson's disease (WD), an inherited disorder of copper metabolism, is caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene. This genetic malfunction disrupts the dynamics of copper transport and metabolism, thereby impairing ceruloplasmin synthesis and copper excretion. The resultant accumulation of copper in various tissues and organs precipitates a cascade of cellular demise and functional impairment. Notably, cuproptosis, a recently discovered copper‑dependent regulated cell death mechanism, distinctly deviates from conventional cell death paradigms. This novel mode of cell death involves the interaction of copper with lipoacylated proteins within the tricarboxylic acid cycle, leading to proteinotoxic stress and culminating in cell death. In the realm of pathophysiology, cuproptosis has emerged as a pivotal player in a spectrum of diseases, with WD standing as a paradigm closely intertwined with the dysregulation of copper metabolism. This study aimed to encapsulate the pivotal molecular underpinnings of cuproptosis and delve into its crucial involvement in the etiopathogenesis of WD. By elucidating these mechanisms, the present analysis contributes significantly to the nuanced understanding of the pathological underpinnings of WD, thereby providing fresh insights and evidence that may direct innovative therapeutic strategies for this condition.

Dual-upregulation of p53 for self-sensitized cuproptosis via microwave dynamic and NO gas therapy

Cuproptosis-a novel cell death mechanism-is an innovative strategy for tumor therapy. However, the insufficient efficacy of cuproptosis, primarily owing to the low sensitivity of tumor cells to Cu ions, remains a major challenge. In this study, we design TiCuMOF@PEG@l-Arg@TPP (TCPAT) nanoparticles to facilitate self-sensitized cuproptosis for anti-tumor therapy through the dual upregulation of p53. TiMOF serves as a microwave sensitizer by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, the uniformly distributed Cu ions within the MOF serve as co-catalysts to provide reactive sites that enhance ROS generation. Additionally, the ROS generated are utilized to oxidize l-arginine, thus resulting in the release of nitric oxide (NO), which has a long half-life and diffusion distance, thereby enabling it to penetrate deep into the tumor regions that are typically inaccessible to ROS. Furthermore, TCPAT not only induces cuproptosis but also leverages the efficiently generated ROS and cascade-released NO for the dual upregulation of p53. This upregulation subsequently inhibits glycolysis, increases cellular sensitivity to Cu ions, and facilitates self-sensitized cuproptosis. Consequently, the self-sensitized cuproptosis strategy, dependent on the efficient generation of ROS, presents a promising avenue for tumor therapy based on cuproptosis mechanisms.

Spermidine alleviates copper-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and cuproptosis in the liver

Copper exposure poses potential detrimental effects on both public and ecosystem health. Spermidine, an antioxidant, has shown promise in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation within the liver. However, its specific role in mitigating copper-induced hepatic cuproptosis and disturbances in copper metabolism remains unexplored. Consequently, this research aims to investigate to examine the impact of spermidine on hepatic cuproptosis and the related disturbances in copper metabolism. In the study, we established a model of copper-induced liver toxicity by feeding C57BL/6 mice a high-copper diet for three months. Histopathological and biochemical analyses revealed that copper exposure induced hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatocyte degeneration, elevated levels of MDA, ROS, and Cu2+ accumulation in the liver, and increased ALT and AST activities in serum (p < .05). Regarding inflammation, copper exposure significantly increased serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (p < .05), upregulated TNF-α and IFN-γ expression, and downregulated IL-10 expression in the liver (p < .05). Meanwhile, copper exposure inhibited the expression of copper metabolism and Fe-S cluster-related proteins (p < .05). Exogenous spermidine administration effectively reduced ROS, MDA, and Cu2+ accumulation in the liver, while also decreasing ALT and AST activites, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the serum (p < .05), and downregulated TNF-α and IFN-γ expression (p < .001). Additionally, spermidine combined with CuSO4 treatment significantly promotes the expression of copper metabolism and Fe-S cluster-related proteins, compared to the CuSO4 group (p < .05). In summary, spermidine reduces Cu2+ accumulation in the liver, alleviates hepatic cuproptosis, oxidative damage, and inflammation, and exerts a protective effect on the liver.

Liver ischemia reperfusion injury: Mechanisms, cellular pathways, and therapeutic approaches

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) is a critical challenge in liver transplantation, resection, and trauma surgeries, leading to significant hepatic damage due to oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This review explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LIRI, focusing on ATP depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inflammatory pathways, including the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β, play a crucial role in exacerbating tissue damage. Various types of cell death, including necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and cuproptosis are also discussed. Therapeutic interventions targeting these mechanisms, such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, mitochondrial protectors, and signaling modulators, have shown promise in pre-clinical studies. However, translating these findings into clinical practice faces challenges due to the limitations of animal models and the complexity of human responses. Emerging therapies, such as RNA-based treatments, genetic editing, and stem cell therapies, offer potential breakthroughs in LIRI management. This review highlights the need for further research and the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcomes.

Impact of cuproptosis in gliomas pathogenesis with targeting options

Gliomas constitute the most prevalent primary central nervous system tumors, often characterized by complex metabolic profile, genomic instability, and aggressiveness, leading to frequent relapse and high mortality rates. Traditional treatments are commonly ineffective because of gliomas increased heterogeneity, invasive characteristics and resistance to chemotherapy. Among several pathways affecting cellular homeostasis, cuproptosis has recently emerged as a novel type of programmed cell death, triggered by accumulation of copper ions. Although the precise molecular mechanisms of cuproptosis are not fully elucidated, there is evidence that copper ions can target mitochondrial lipoylated proteins, disrupting the tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain, thus leading to deregulated mitochondrial metabolism, protein aggregation and cell death. Of importance, altered expression of copper transporters and abnormally high intracellular copper levels have been observed in several cancer types, including gliomas, contributing to tumor growth and metastasis. Furthermore, a range of prognostic models incorporating cuproptosis-related genes and lncRNAs have been proposed and are currently under clinical validation. Drugs modulating cuproptosis or interfering with copper-binding proteins are under development, causing metabolic failure and cell death, thus offering potential new avenues for glioma diagnosis and therapy. In this article, we explore the role of copper metabolism in gliomas and the potential synergistic effects of cuproptosis-based treatments with current therapies, in effective targeting of tumor progression and chemoresistance.

Cuproptosis and copper as potential mechanisms and intervention targets in Alzheimer's disease

Recently study has found a new form of copper-dependent death called cuproptosis, which differs from apoptosis, ferroptosis, and necrosis. The main process of cuproptosis is copper directly combined with lipid-acetylated proteins in the TCA cycle of mitochondrial response, leading to the aggregation of lipid-acetylated proteins and the loss of Fe-S cluster proteins, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction, and eventually causing cell death. Previous studies demonstrated that an imbalance in copper homeostasis exacerbates the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the induction of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and the accumulation of Aβ deposition and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. However, the underlying mechanisms remains to be elucidated. More importantly, research identifies the role of cuproptosis and further elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms in AD. This review summarized the effects of copper metabolism on AD pathology, the characteristics and mechanism of cuproptosis and we discuss the significance of cuproptosis in the pathogenesis of AD.

Phage display technology in ecotoxicology: phage display derived unique peptide for copper identification in aquatic samples

BACKGROUND

Ecotoxicology is essential for the evaluation and comprehension of the effects of emergency pollutants (EP) such as heavy metal ions on the natural environment. EPs pose a substantial threat to the health of humans and the proper functioning of the global ecosystem. The primary concern is the exposure of humans and animals to heavy metal ions through contaminated water. The presence of heavy metal ions in drinking water ought to be monitored in accordance with World Health Organization regulations. Among the numerous harmful metal ions, copper ions are responsible for a variety of human diseases.

RESULTS

This study investigates the application of phage display as a screening method for heavy metal toxicological targets, with copper served as the main focus. To identify a variety of Cu-binding M13 phage clones with unique peptides and to assess their affinity for metal ions, the study utilized Escherichia coli as a factories producing recombinant bacteriophages, modified biopanning procedure and an ELISA assay. The research highlights the increasing importance of phage display as a screening tool in ecotoxicology. We synthesized and modified the selected peptide to enable the rapid optical detection of Cu(II) ions in aqueous solutions. By incorporating the dansyl group into a designated peptide sequence, we implemented fluorescence detection assays for real-time measurements. The Cu2+- binding peptide's efficacy was confirmed through spectroscopic measurements, which allowed for real-time detection with rapid response times with high selectivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The phage display technique was successfully applied to develop the fluorescent peptide-based chemosensor that exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for Cu2+.