Mediation of iron uptake and release in erythroid cells by photodegradation products of nifedipine

Engineering a Genetically Encoded Magnetic Protein Crystal

Magnetogenetics is a new field that leverages genetically encoded proteins and protein assemblies that are sensitive to magnetic fields to study and manipulate cell behavior. Theoretical studies show that many proposed magnetogenetic proteins do not contain enough iron to generate substantial magnetic forces. Here, we have engineered a genetically encoded ferritin-containing protein crystal that grows inside mammalian cells. Each of these crystals contains more than 10 million ferritin subunits and is capable of mineralizing substantial amounts of iron. When isolated from cells and loaded with iron in vitro, these crystals generate magnetic forces that are 9 orders of magnitude larger than the forces from the single ferritin cages used in previous studies. These protein crystals are attracted to an applied magnetic field and move toward magnets even when internalized into cells. While additional studies are needed to realize the full potential of magnetogenetics, these results demonstrate the feasibility of engineering protein assemblies for magnetic sensing.

Theoretical and experimental study of the ground and excited states of 1,4-dihydropyridine based hexahydroquinoline derivatives achieved by microwave irradiation

The photophysical study indicates ICT state for 1,4-dihydropyridine based hexahydroquinoline derivatives.

Pharmacology of iron transport

Elucidating the molecular basis for the regulation of iron uptake, storage, and distribution is necessary to understand iron homeostasis. Pharmacological tools are emerging to identify and distinguish among different iron transport pathways. Stimulatory or inhibitory small molecules with effects on iron uptake can help characterize the mechanistic elements of iron transport and the roles of the transporters involved in these processes. In particular, iron chelators can serve as potential pharmacological tools to alleviate diseases of iron overload. This review focuses on the pharmacology of iron transport, introducing iron transport membrane proteins and known inhibitors.

Human iron transporters

Human iron transporters manage iron carefully because tissues need iron for critical functions, but too much iron increases the risk of reactive oxygen species. Iron acquisition occurs in the duodenum via divalent metal transporter (DMT1) and ferroportin. Iron trafficking depends largely on the transferrin cycle. Nevertheless, non-digestive tissues have a variety of other iron transporters that may render DMT1 modestly redundant, and DMT1 levels exceed those needed for the just-mentioned tasks. This review begins to consider why and also describes advances after 2008 that begin to address this challenge.

Epidermal desquamation

Epidermal desquamation, a continuous but insensible bodily activity, is largely ignored unless the rate or amount of scale production becomes abnormal. It is the last topic to be considered in any serious discussion of epidermal growth and differentiation, but is becoming an increasingly fertile ground for investigation. This review summarizes: (a) methods for measuring desquamation; (b) variables that affect normal desquamation; (c) mechanisms of desquamation; (d) the role of desquamation in nutritional homeostasis; and (e) the role of desquamation as a first line of defense. Consideration is given to whether desquamation might be harnessed to eliminate or remediate toxins that have accumulated in the body.

Iron and transition metal transport into erythrocytes mediated by nifedipine degradation products and related compounds

The aim of this investigation was to determine the mechanism of action of the nitrosophenylpyridine derivative of nifedipine ("nitrosonifedipine", NN) on Fe(II) transport into erythrocytes. Nifedipine is rapidly degraded to NN by daylight. We used rabbit erythrocytes, NN, and several chemically related substances, and examined their effects on the transfer of iron and other transition metals (cadmium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, zinc) into and out of the cells. NN mediated the transfer of iron and zinc but not the other metals into the cell cytosol. The transfer of Fe(II) was not affected by changes in cell membrane potential and could not be ascribed to free radical production. Two hydroxamic acid compounds chemically related to NN also stimulated iron and zinc uptake, but no evidence was obtained for cell-induced transformation of NN to them. In vivo, NN is probably converted to a lactam derivative. This compound was found to have no effect on iron uptake by the cells. It is concluded that NN has a relatively high specificity for the transport of iron compared with other transition metals, and small changes in its structure markedly affect this action. Also, because the lactam to which NN is converted in vivo is inactive, it is unlikely that nifedipine will affect iron metabolism after therapeutic administration.

Amlodipine decreases iron uptake and oxygen free radical production in the heart of chronically iron overloaded mice

Hereditary hemochromatosis is a disorder of iron metabolism, which is currently the most prevalent autosomal recessive disorder in the world, with an expression of the homozygous form occurring in approximately 1 in 200 individuals of European descent. Approximately one third of patients with hemochromatosis die of iron-induced cardiac complications. Although the exact mechanism is not known, it is believed that the toxicity of excess iron in biological systems is due to its ability to catalyze the generation of harmful reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS), which can damage proteins, lipids, and DNA. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that non-transferrin-bound iron uptake in the myocardium may occur through voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels, and that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may possess antioxidant properties. Accordingly, the authors hypothesized that the administration of amlodipine besylate would (1) decrease iron uptake in the myocardium and (2) decrease oxygen free radical production as measured by cytotoxic aldehyde-derived peroxidation products in a murine model of iron overload cardiomyopathy. The findings show that the CCB amlodipine is partially effective in limiting iron uptake in the heart and significantly inhibits the production of ROS in chronically iron-loaded mice. These are important preliminary findings because they suggest that CCBs may have significance in the clinical management of genetic disorders of iron metabolism.

Photodegraded nifedipine stimulates uptake and retention of iron in human epidermal keratinocytes

Photodegraded nifedipine has been shown to increase uptake of nontransferrin bound iron into erythroid cells. If iron could be loaded into keratinocytes, it might be possible to exploit epidermal desquamation for the purpose of eliminating potentially toxic amounts of iron from the body. We investigated the ability of photodegraded nifedipine to stimulate iron transport and accumulation in human epidermal keratinocytes. Nifedipine was degraded to its nitroso derivative by exposure to sunlight. 59Fe uptake was measured in keratinocyte monolayers, and total iron content was measured in stratified epidermal cultures. Photodegraded nifedipine increased iron uptake into keratinocytes 80-fold compared to controls. The effect of photodegraded nifedipine on iron uptake was rapid, was concentration dependent and occurred at physiologically relevant concentrations of nonprotein-bound iron. Stimulation of iron uptake by photodegraded nifedipine was independent of transferrin and worked equally well in the presence or absence of serum proteins. Iron content in keratinocytes was increased 3-fold by four daily treatments with photodegraded nifedipine. The increased iron content resulting from photodegraded nifedipine treatment was retained during a 4 d washout period. Photodegraded nifedipine may be a way delivering clinically significant amounts of iron to the epidermis.

Vascular release of nonheme iron in perfused rabbit lungs

In this study, we hypothesized that the lung actively releases excess iron into the circulation to regulate iron homeostasis. We measured nonheme iron (NHFe) in the perfusate of control isolated perfused rabbit lungs and lungs with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) ventilated with normoxic (21% O(2)) or hypoxic (95% N(2)) gas mixtures. Some were perfused with bicarbonate-free (HEPES) buffer or treated with the anion exchange inhibitor DIDS. The control lungs released approximately 0.25 microg/ml of NHFe or 20% of the total lung NHFe into the vascular space that was not complexed with ferritin, transferrin, or lactoferrin or bleomycin reactive. The I/R lungs released a similar amount of NHFe during ischemia and some bleomycin-detectable iron during reperfusion. NHFe release was attenuated by approximately 50% in both control and ischemic lungs by hypoxia and by >90% in control lungs and approximately 60% in ischemic lungs by DIDS and HEPES. Reperfusion injury was not affected by DIDS or HEPES but was attenuated by hypoxia. These results indicate that biologically nonreactive nonheme iron is released rapidly by the lung into the vascular space via mechanisms that are linked to bicarbonate exchange. During prolonged ischemia, redox-active iron is also released into the vascular compartment by other mechanisms and may contribute to lung injury.