Structural modifications of serum transthyretin in rats during protein-energy malnutrition

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to study post-translational modifications of human transthyretin

The visceral protein transthyretin (TTR) is frequently affected by oxidative post-translational protein modifications (PTPMs) in various diseases. Thus, better insight into structure-function relationships due to oxidative PTPMs of TTR should contribute to the understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms. While the in vivo analysis of TTR in mammalian models is complex, time- and resource-consuming, transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing hTTR provide an optimal model for the in vivo identification and characterization of drug-mediated oxidative PTPMs of hTTR by means of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight - mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Herein, we demonstrated that hTTR is expressed in all developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans, enabling the analysis of hTTR metabolism during the whole life-cycle. The suitability of the applied model was verified by exposing worms to D-penicillamine and menadione. Both drugs induced substantial changes in the oxidative PTPM pattern of hTTR. Additionally, for the first time a covalent binding of both drugs with hTTR was identified and verified by molecular modelling.

Serum prealbumin is a predictive biomarker for stroke-associated infection after an ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Several prior studies have linked serum prealbumin (PA) as a predictor for perioperative infection. However, whether peripheral blood PA levels can be used as an indicator of stroke-associated infection (SAI) is still unclear. In this study, we attempt to find whether serum PA is a meaningful predictor in SAI after an ischemic stroke, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to our hospital were enrolled and serum PA was collected. A prospective study was conducted to observe the predictive value of PA in the SAI incident in ischemic stroke patients.

RESULTS

Of 104 patients, 29 (27.9%) developed an SAI after 7 d of follow-up. The stroke with SAI group had significantly lower PA levels than the stroke without SAI group (  p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff value for predicting SAI was PA ≤ 191 mg/L, with sensitivity and specificity of 58.62% and 81.33%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that stroke patients with low serum PA level (PA ≤ 191 mg/L) had a higher SAI rates (log-rank test, χ² = 16.870, p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that PA ≤ 191 mg/L (hazard ratio = 3.207; 95% CI, 1.430-7.190, p = 0.005) was an independent risk factor for SAI.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection of serum PA during the acute phase of ischemic stroke may help us to identify at-risk SAI patients, and hence rapidly guide the intervention to prevent SAI.

Post-translational modifications of transthyretin affect the triiodonine-binding potential

Transthyretin (TTR) is a visceral protein, which facilitates the transport of thyroid hormones in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The homotetrameric structure of TTR enables the simultaneous binding of two thyroid hormones per molecule. Each TTR subunit provides a single cysteine residue (Cys₁₀), which is frequently affected by oxidative post-translational modifications. As Cys₁₀ is part of the thyroid hormone-binding channel within the TTR molecule, PTM of Cys₁₀ may influence the binding of thyroid hormones. Therefore, we analysed the effects of Cys₁₀ modification with sulphonic acid, cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione on binding of triiodothyronine (T3) by molecular modelling. Furthermore, we determined the PTM pattern of TTR in serum of patients with thyroid disease by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to evaluate this association in vivo. The in silico assays demonstrated that oxidative PTM of TTR resulted in substantial reorganization of the intramolecular interactions and also affected the binding of T3 in a chemotype- and site-specific manner with S-glutathionylation as the most potent modulator of T3 binding. These findings were supported by the in vivo results, which indicated thyroid function-specific patterns of TTR with a substantial decrease in S-sulphonated, S-cysteinylglycinated and S-glutathionylated TTR in hypothyroid patients. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that oxidative modifications of Cys₁₀ seem to affect binding of T3 to TTR probably because of the introduction of a sterical hindrance and induction of conformational changes. As oxidative modifications can be dynamically regulated, this may represent a sensitive mechanism to adjust thyroid hormone availability.

Transthyretin is dysregulated in preeclampsia, and its native form prevents the onset of disease in a preclinical mouse model

Preeclampsia is a major pregnancy complication with potential short- and long-term consequences for both mother and fetus. Understanding its pathogenesis and causative biomarkers is likely to yield insights for prediction and treatment. Herein, we provide evidence that transthyretin, a transporter of thyroxine and retinol, is aggregated in preeclampsia and is present at reduced levels in sera of preeclamptic women, as detected by proteomic screen. We demonstrate that transthyretin aggregates form deposits in preeclampsia placental tissue and cause apoptosis. By using in vitro approaches and a humanized mouse model, we provide evidence for a causal link between dysregulated transthyretin and preeclampsia. Native transthyretin inhibits all preeclampsia-like features in the humanized mouse model, including new-onset proteinuria, increased blood pressure, glomerular endotheliosis, and production of anti-angiogenic factors. Our findings suggest that a focus on transthyretin structure and function is a novel strategy to understand and combat preeclampsia.

Molecular nutrition research: the modern way of performing nutritional science

In spite of amazing progress in food supply and nutritional science, and a striking increase in life expectancy of approximately 2.5 months per year in many countries during the previous 150 years, modern nutritional research has a great potential of still contributing to improved health for future generations, granted that the revolutions in molecular and systems technologies are applied to nutritional questions. Descriptive and mechanistic studies using state of the art epidemiology, food intake registration, genomics with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, advanced biostatistics, imaging, calorimetry, cell biology, challenge tests (meals, exercise, etc.), and integration of all data by systems biology, will provide insight on a much higher level than today in a field we may name molecular nutrition research. To take advantage of all the new technologies scientists should develop international collaboration and gather data in large open access databases like the suggested Nutritional Phenotype database (dbNP). This collaboration will promote standardization of procedures (SOP), and provide a possibility to use collected data in future research projects. The ultimate goals of future nutritional research are to understand the detailed mechanisms of action for how nutrients/foods interact with the body and thereby enhance health and treat diet-related diseases.

Retinol binding protein 4 and retinol in steatotic and nonsteatotic rat livers in the setting of partial hepatectomy under ischemia/reperfusion

Steatotic livers show increased hepatic damage and impaired regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) under ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), which is commonly applied in clinical practice to reduce bleeding. The known function of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is to transport retinol in the circulation. We examined whether modulating RBP4 and/or retinol could protect steatotic and nonsteatotic livers in the setting of PH under I/R. Steatotic and nonsteatotic livers from Zucker rats were subjected to PH (70%) with 60 minutes of ischemia. RBP4 and retinol levels were measured and altered pharmacologically, and their effects on hepatic damage and regeneration were studied after reperfusion. Decreased RBP4 levels were observed in both liver types, whereas retinol levels were reduced only in steatotic livers. RBP4 administration exacerbated the negative consequences of liver surgery with respect to damage and liver regeneration in both liver types. RBP4 affected the mobilization of retinol from steatotic livers, and this revealed actions of RBP4 independent of simple retinol transport. The injurious effects of RBP4 were not due to changes in retinol levels. Treatment with retinol was effective only for steatotic livers. Indeed, retinol increased hepatic injury and impaired liver regeneration in nonsteatotic livers. In steatotic livers, retinol reduced damage and improved regeneration after surgery. These benefits of retinol were associated with a reduced accumulation of hepatocellular fat. Thus, strategies based on modulating RBP4 could be ineffective and possibly even harmful in both liver types in the setting of PH under I/R. In terms of clinical applications, a retinol pretreatment might open new avenues for liver surgery that specifically benefit the steatotic liver.

Quantitative measurement of full-length and C-terminal proteolyzed RBP4 in serum of normal and insulin-resistant humans using a novel mass spectrometry immunoassay

Serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels are increased in insulin-resistant humans and correlate with severity of insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome. Quantitative Western blotting (qWestern) has been the most accurate method for serum RBP4 measurements, but qWestern is technically complex and labor intensive. The lack of a reliable, high-throughput method for RBP4 measurements has resulted in variability in findings in insulin-resistant humans. Many commonly used ELISAs have limited dynamic range. Neither the current ELISAs nor qWestern distinguish among full-length and carboxyl terminus proteolyzed forms of circulating RBP4 that are altered in different medical conditions. Here, we report the development of a novel quantitative mass spectrometry immunoaffinity assay (qMSIA) to measure full-length and proteolyzed forms of RBP4. qMSIA and qWestern of RBP4 were performed in identical serum aliquots from insulin-sensitive/normoglycemic or insulin-resistant humans with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. Total RBP4 qMSIA measurements were highly similar to qWestern and correlated equally well with clinical severity of insulin resistance (assessed by clamp glucose disposal rate, r = -0.74), hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.63), triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (r = 0.55), waist/hip (r = 0.61), and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.53, all P < 0.001). Proteolyzed forms of RBP4 accounted for up to 50% of total RBP4 in insulin-resistant subjects, and des(Leu)-RBP4 (cleavage of last leucine) correlated highly with insulin resistance (assessed by glucose disposal rate, r = -0.69). In multiple regression analysis, insulin resistance but not glomerular filtration rate was the strongest, independent predictor of serum RBP4 levels. Thus, qMSIA provides a novel tool for accurately measuring serum RBP4 levels as a biomarker for severity of insulin resistance and risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Genetic differences in the serum proteome of horses, donkeys and mules are detectable by protein profiling

Although horses and donkeys belong to the same genus, their genetic characteristics probably result in specific proteomes and post-translational modifications (PTM) of proteins. Since PTM can alter protein properties, specific PTM may contribute to species-specific characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse differences in serum protein profiles of horses and donkeys as well as mules, which combine the genetic backgrounds of both species. Additionally, changes in PTM of the protein transthyretin (TTR) were analysed. Serum protein profiles of each species (five animals per species) were determined using strong anion exchanger ProteinChips® (Bio-Rad, Munich, Germany) in combination with surface-enhanced laser desorption ionisation-time of flight MS. The PTM of TTR were analysed subsequently by immunoprecipitation in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight MS. Protein profiling revealed species-specific differences in the proteome, with some protein peaks present in all three species as well as protein peaks that were unique for donkeys and mules, horses and mules or for horses alone. The molecular weight of TTR of horses and donkeys differed by 30 Da, and both species revealed several modified forms of TTR besides the native form. The mass spectra of mules represented a merging of TTR spectra of horses and donkeys. In summary, the present study indicated that there are substantial differences in the proteome of horses and donkeys. Additionally, the results probably indicate that the proteome of mules reveal a higher similarity to donkeys than to horses.