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Schomakers BV, Jillings SL, van Weeghel M, Vaz FM, Salomons GS, Janssens GE, Houtkooper RH. Ophthalmic acid is a glutathione regulating tripeptide. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38245827 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Since its discovery in 1958 in the lens of cows, ophthalmic acid (OPH) has stood in the shadow of its anti-oxidant analog: glutathione (GSH). Lacking the thiol group that gives GSH many of its important properties, ophthalmic acid's function has remained elusive, and it has been widely presumed to be an accidental product of the same enzymes. In this review, we compile evidence demonstrating that OPH is a ubiquitous metabolite found in bacteria, plants, fungi, and animals, produced through several layers of metabolic regulation. We discuss the limitations of the oft-repeated suggestions that aberrations in OPH levels should solely indicate GSH deficiency or oxidative stress. Finally, we discuss the available literature and suggest OPH's role in metabolism as a GSH-regulating tripeptide; controlling both cellular and organelle influx and efflux of GSH, as well as modulating GSH-dependent reactions and signaling. Ultimately, we hope that this review reinvigorates and directs more research into this versatile metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauke V Schomakers
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sonia L Jillings
- Green Biotechnology, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel van Weeghel
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frédéric M Vaz
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gajja S Salomons
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
| | - Georges E Janssens
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, The Netherlands
| | - Riekelt H Houtkooper
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, The Netherlands
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2
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Ikeda Y, Fujii J. The Emerging Roles of γ-Glutamyl Peptides Produced by γ-Glutamyltransferase and the Glutathione Synthesis System. Cells 2023; 12:2831. [PMID: 38132151 PMCID: PMC10741565 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
L-γ-Glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine is commonly referred to as glutathione (GSH); this ubiquitous thiol plays essential roles in animal life. Conjugation and electron donation to enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX) are prominent functions of GSH. Cellular glutathione balance is robustly maintained via regulated synthesis, which is catalyzed via the coordination of γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) and glutathione synthetase, as well as by reductive recycling by glutathione reductase. A prevailing short supply of L-cysteine (Cys) tends to limit glutathione synthesis, which leads to the production of various other γ-glutamyl peptides due to the unique enzymatic properties of γ-GCS. Extracellular degradation of glutathione by γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a dominant source of Cys for some cells. GGT catalyzes the hydrolytic removal of the γ-glutamyl group of glutathione or transfers it to amino acids or to dipeptides outside cells. Such processes depend on an abundance of acceptor substrates. However, the physiological roles of extracellularly preserved γ-glutamyl peptides have long been unclear. The identification of γ-glutamyl peptides, such as glutathione, as allosteric modulators of calcium-sensing receptors (CaSRs) could provide insights into the significance of the preservation of γ-glutamyl peptides. It is conceivable that GGT could generate a new class of intercellular messaging molecules in response to extracellular microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Ikeda
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata City 990-9585, Japan
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3
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Fujii J, Osaki T, Soma Y, Matsuda Y. Critical Roles of the Cysteine-Glutathione Axis in the Production of γ-Glutamyl Peptides in the Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098044. [PMID: 37175751 PMCID: PMC10179188 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Glutamyl moiety that is attached to the cysteine (Cys) residue in glutathione (GSH) protects it from peptidase-mediated degradation. The sulfhydryl group of the Cys residue represents most of the functions of GSH, which include electron donation to peroxidases, protection of reactive sulfhydryl in proteins via glutaredoxin, and glutathione conjugation of xenobiotics, whereas Cys-derived sulfur is also a pivotal component of some redox-responsive molecules. The amount of Cys that is available tends to restrict the capacity of GSH synthesis. In in vitro systems, cystine is the major form in the extracellular milieu, and a specific cystine transporter, xCT, is essential for survival in most lines of cells and in many primary cultivated cells as well. A reduction in the supply of Cys causes GPX4 to be inhibited due to insufficient GSH synthesis, which leads to iron-dependent necrotic cell death, ferroptosis. Cells generally cannot take up GSH without the removal of γ-glutamyl moiety by γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) on the cell surface. Meanwhile, the Cys-GSH axis is essentially common to certain types of cells; primarily, neuronal cells that contain a unique metabolic system for intercellular communication concerning γ-glutamyl peptides. After a general description of metabolic processes concerning the Cys-GSH axis, we provide an overview and discuss the significance of GSH-related compounds in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Osaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yuya Soma
- Graduate School of Nursing, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yumi Matsuda
- Graduate School of Nursing, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
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4
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Multiomics assessment of dietary protein titration reveals altered hepatic glucose utilization. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111187. [PMID: 35977507 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary protein restriction (PR) has rapid effects on metabolism including improved glucose and lipid homeostasis, via multiple mechanisms. Here, we investigate responses of fecal microbiome, hepatic transcriptome, and hepatic metabolome to six diets with protein from 18% to 0% of energy in mice. PR alters fecal microbial composition, but metabolic effects are not transferable via fecal transplantation. Hepatic transcriptome and metabolome are significantly altered in diets with lower than 10% energy from protein. Changes upon PR correlate with calorie restriction but with a larger magnitude and specific changes in amino acid (AA) metabolism. PR increases steady-state aspartate, serine, and glutamate and decreases glucose and gluconeogenic intermediates. 13C6 glucose and glycerol tracing reveal increased fractional enrichment in aspartate, serine, and glutamate. Changes remain intact in hepatic ATF4 knockout mice. Together, this demonstrates an ATF4-independent shift in gluconeogenic substrate utilization toward specific AAs, with compensation from glycerol to promote a protein-sparing response.
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Luís C, Soares R, Baylina P, Fernandes R. Underestimated Prediabetic Biomarkers: Are We Blind to Their Strategy? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:805837. [PMID: 35321333 PMCID: PMC8936175 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.805837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is currently one of the fastest growing health challenging, a non-communicable disease result of the XXI century lifestyle. Given its growing incidence and prevalence, it became increasingly imperative to develop new technologies and implement new biomarkers for early diagnosis in order to promote lifestyle changes and thus cause a setback of the disease. Promising biomarkers have been identified as predictive of T2D development; however, none of them have yet been implemented in clinical practice routine. Moreover, many prediabetic biomarkers can also represent potential therapeutical targets in disease management. Previous studies have identified the most popular biomarkers, which are being thoroughly investigated. However, there are some biomarkers with promising preliminary results with limited associated studies; hence there is still much to be understood about its mechanisms and associations in T2D pathophysiology. This work identifies and discusses the promising results of Galectin-3, Ophthalmate and Fetuin-A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Luís
- Laboratory of Medical & Industrial Biotechnology (LABMI)-Porto Research, Technology and Innovation Center (PORTIC), Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Carla Luís, ; Rúben Fernandes,
| | - Raquel Soares
- Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pilar Baylina
- Laboratory of Medical & Industrial Biotechnology (LABMI)-Porto Research, Technology and Innovation Center (PORTIC), Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ESS-IPP – Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rúben Fernandes
- Laboratory of Medical & Industrial Biotechnology (LABMI)-Porto Research, Technology and Innovation Center (PORTIC), Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ESS-IPP – Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Carla Luís, ; Rúben Fernandes,
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6
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Kobayashi S, Homma T, Okumura N, Han J, Nagaoka K, Sato H, Konno H, Yamada S, Takao T, Fujii J. Carnosine dipeptidase II (CNDP2) protects cells under cysteine insufficiency by hydrolyzing glutathione-related peptides. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 174:12-27. [PMID: 34324979 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The knockout (KO) of the cystine transporter xCT causes ferroptosis, a type of iron-dependent necrotic cell death, in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, but this does not occur in macrophages. In this study, we explored the gene that supports cell survival under a xCT deficiency using a proteomics approach. Analysis of macrophage-derived peptides that were tagged with iTRAQ by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a robust elevation in the levels of carnosine dipeptidase II (CNDP2) in xCT KO macrophages. The elevation in the CNDP2 protein levels was confirmed by immunoblot analyses and this elevation was accompanied by an increase in hydrolytic activity towards cysteinylglycine, the intermediate degradation product of glutathione after the removal of the γ-glutamyl group, in xCT KO macrophages. Supplementation of the cystine-free media of Hepa1-6 cells with glutathione or cysteinylglycine extended their survival, whereas the inclusion of bestatin, an inhibitor of CNDP2, counteracted the effects of these compounds. We established CNDP2 KO mice by means of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and found a decrease in dipeptidase activity in the liver, kidney, and brain. An acetaminophen overdose (350 mg/kg) showed not only aggravated hepatic damage but also renal injury in the CNDP2 KO mice, which was not evident in the wild-type mice that were receiving the same dose. The aggravated renal damage in the CNDP2 KO mice was consistent with the presence of abundant levels of CNDP2 in the kidney, the organ prone to developing ferroptosis. These collective data imply that cytosolic CNDP2, in conjugation with the removal of the γ-glutamyl group, recruits Cys from extracellular GSH and supports redox homeostasis of cells, particularly in epithelial cells of proximal tubules that are continuously exposed to oxidative insult from metabolic wastes that are produced in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Takujiro Homma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Okumura
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Analysis, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Jia Han
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Keita Nagaoka
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University, 746-2 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8518, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Konno
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Sohsuke Yamada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Takao
- Laboratory of Protein Profiling and Functional Proteomics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
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7
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Bok R, Guerra DD, Lorca RA, Wennersten SA, Harris PS, Rauniyar AK, Stabler SP, MacLean KN, Roede JR, Brown LD, Hurt KJ. Cystathionine γ-lyase promotes estrogen-stimulated uterine artery blood flow via glutathione homeostasis. Redox Biol 2020; 40:101827. [PMID: 33485059 PMCID: PMC7823052 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, estrogen (E2) stimulates uterine artery blood flow (UBF) by enhancing nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) promotes vascular NO signaling by producing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and by maintaining the ratio of reduced-to-oxidized intracellular glutathione (GSH/GSSG) through l-cysteine production. Because redox homeostasis can influence NO signaling, we hypothesized that CSE mediates E2 stimulation of UBF by modulating local intracellular cysteine metabolism and GSH/GSSG levels to promote redox homeostasis. Using non-pregnant ovariectomized WT and CSE-null (CSE KO) mice, we performed micro-ultrasound of mouse uterine and renal arteries to assess changes in blood flow upon exogenous E2 stimulation. We quantified serum and uterine artery NO metabolites (NOx), serum amino acids, and uterine and renal artery GSH/GSSG. WT and CSE KO mice exhibited similar baseline uterine and renal blood flow. Unlike WT, CSE KO mice did not exhibit expected E2 stimulation of UBF. Renal blood flow was E2-insensitive for both genotypes. While serum and uterine artery NOx were similar between genotypes at baseline, E2 decreased NOx in CSE KO serum. Cysteine was also lower in CSE KO serum, while citrulline and homocysteine levels were elevated. E2 and CSE deletion additively decreased GSH/GSSG in uterine arteries. In contrast, renal artery GSH/GSSG was insensitive to E2 or CSE deletion. Together, these findings suggest that CSE maintenance of uterine artery GSH/GSSG facilitates nitrergic signaling in uterine arteries and is required for normal E2 stimulation of UBF. These data have implications for pregnancy pathophysiology and the selective hormone responses of specific vascular beds. CSE-null mice exhibit abnormal estrogen augmentation of uterine artery blood flow. Estrogen lowers uterine artery nitric oxide metabolites in CSE null mice. CSE loss and estrogen additively impair uterine artery glutathione homeostasis. Neither CSE loss nor estrogen influences renal artery blood flow or glutathione.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Bok
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Damian D Guerra
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, 2301 S. 3rd Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Ramón A Lorca
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sara A Wennersten
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Peter S Harris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 E. Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Abhishek K Rauniyar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 E. Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sally P Stabler
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kenneth N MacLean
- Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - James R Roede
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 E. Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Laura D Brown
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Perinatal Research Center, 13243 E. 23rd Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - K Joseph Hurt
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA; Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Moon G, Kobayashi S, Aung Naing Y, Yamada KI, Yamakawa M, Fujii J. Iron loading exerts synergistic action via a different mechanistic pathway from that of acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in mice. Free Radic Res 2020; 54:606-619. [PMID: 32896183 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2020.1819996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a major cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. In such cases, free iron is released from lysosomes and is transported to mitochondria where it plays a pivotal role in APAP-induced liver injury. We previously reported that ascorbic acid (Asc) markedly mitigates APAP-induced hepatic damage in aldehyde reductase (Akr1a)-knockout (KO) mice that produce about 10% Asc as wild-type (WT) mice. However, the issue of the protective mechanism of Asc in association with the status of iron remains ambiguous. To gain additional insights into this issue, we examined effects of APAP (500 mg/kg) on female KO mice under conditions of iron loading. While the KO mice without AsA supplementation were more sensitive to APAP toxicity than the WT mice, FeSO4 loading (25 mg/kg) to WT mice aggravated the hepatic injury, which was a similar extent to that of the KO mice. Supplementation of Asc (1.5 mg/ml in the drinking water) ameliorated KO mice irrespective of iron status but did not change the iron-mediated increase in the lethality in the WT mice. Hepatic cysteine and glutathione levels declined to similar extents in all mouse groups at 3 h irrespective of the iron status and largely recovered at 18 h after the APAP treatment when liver damage was evident. Asc prominently mitigated APAP toxicity in KO mice irrespective of the iron status but had no effect on the synergistic action of iron and APAP in the WT mice, suggesting that the mechanism for the deteriorating action of loaded iron is different from that of APAP toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyul Moon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ye Aung Naing
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Yamada
- Department of Bio-functional Science, Faculty of Pharmacological Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Yamakawa
- Department of Pathological Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
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γ-Glutamylcysteine synthetase and γ-glutamyl transferase as differential enzymatic sources of γ-glutamylpeptides in mice. Amino Acids 2020; 52:555-566. [PMID: 32170467 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02835-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Some γ-glutamylpeptides in blood plasma are putative biomarkers for pathological conditions of the liver. γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) are two such potential enzymes that are responsible for the production of γ-glutamylpeptides. GGT produces γ-glutamylpeptides by transferring the γ-glutamyl moiety from glutathione to an amino acid or a peptide. γ-GCS normally catalyzes the production of γ-glutamylcysteine from glutamate and cysteine in the glutathione-synthesizing reaction, but other amino acids can also serve as an acceptor of a γ-glutamyl group, thus resulting in the formation of a variety of γ-glutamylpeptides. Based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses, we observed differences in the distribution of γ-glutamylpeptides between the liver and kidney and were able to measure the activities of γ-GCS as well as the GGT reactions by quantifying the resulting γ-glutamylpeptides. The enzymatic characterization of γ-GCS in liver homogenates indicated that several γ-glutamylpeptides including γ-glutamyltaurine are actually produced. Cys showed the lowest Km value (0.06 mM) while other amino acids had much higher Km values (ranging from 21 to 1800 mM). The moderate Km values for these amino acids suggest that they were not the preferred amino acids in this conversion but were utilized as acceptor substrates for the production of the corresponding γ-glutamylpeptides by the γ-GCS reaction under Cys-deficient conditions. Thus, the production of these γ-glutamylpeptides by γ-GCS is directly correlated with a low Cys content, suggesting that their measurement in blood plasma could be useful for predicting the presymptomatic disease state of the liver with a defect in GSH redox balance.
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10
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Fujii J, Homma T, Kobayashi S. Ferroptosis caused by cysteine insufficiency and oxidative insult. Free Radic Res 2019; 54:969-980. [PMID: 31505959 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2019.1666983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Free iron has long been assumed to be a deteriorating factor in an oxidative insult and was recently found to be directly associated with ferroptosis, a specific type of cell death. The free iron-involved production of lipid peroxides activates the fatal pathway, resulting in nonapoptotic, programed cell death. Lipid peroxides appear to destroy membrane integrity, leading to cell rupture. Glutathione (GSH) is a major redox molecule that functions to protect against ferroptosis by its ability to donate an electron to glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the sole enzyme that reduces phospholipid hydroperoxides. The availability of free cysteine (Cys) determines the levels of GSH synthesis, and, hence, its deprivation causes ferroptosis. Free iron is provided via ferritinophagy, the chaperone-mediated autophagic degradation of ferritin, but GPX4 also undergoes degradation via chaperone-mediated autophagy. Activated Nrf2 and ATF4 induce the expression of the cystine transporter xCT to cope with ferroptosis. To the contrary, the excessive activation of p53 induces ferroptosis by suppressing the expression of xCT in genetic and nongenetic manners. It therefore appears that xCT functions as the gatekeeper for determining cellular survival by regulating the availability of Cys in the cell. The issue of the extent of involvement of ferroptosis in an in vivo situation largely remains ambiguous. Establishing tools for specifying ferroptotic cells in situ would facilitate our understanding of its roles in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata City, Japan
| | - Takujiro Homma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata City, Japan
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata City, Japan
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11
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Kurihara K, Homma T, Kobayashi S, Shichiri M, Fujiwara H, Fujii S, Yamada KI, Nakane M, Kawamae K, Fujii J. Ascorbic acid insufficiency impairs spatial memory formation in juvenile AKR1A-knockout mice. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2019; 65:209-216. [PMID: 31777422 PMCID: PMC6877411 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.19-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
AKR1A, an aldo-keto reductase, is involved in the synthesis of ascorbic acid as well as the reduction of a variety of aldehyde compounds. AKR1A−/− mice produce considerably less ascorbic acid (about 10%) compared to AKR1A+/+ mice and require ascorbic acid supplementation in order to breed. To elucidate the roles played by AKR1A in spatial memory, AKR1A−/− male mice were weaned at 4 weeks of age and groups that received ascorbic acid supplementation and no supplementation were subjected to a Morris water maze test. Juvenile AKR1A−/− mice that received no supplementation showed impaired spatial memory formation, even though about 70% of the ascorbic acid remained in the brains of the AKR1A−/− mice at day 7 after weaning. To the contrary, the young adult AKR1A−/− mice at 13–15 weeks of age maintained only 15% of ascorbic acid but showed no significant difference in the spatial memory compared with the AKR1A+/+ mice or ascorbic acid-supplemented AKR1A−/− mice. It is conceivable that juvenile mice require more ascorbic acid for the appropriate level of formation of spatial memory and that maturation of the neural system renders the memory forming process less sensitive to an ascorbic acid insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Kurihara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan.,Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Takujiro Homma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Mototada Shichiri
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroki Fujiwara
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Satoshi Fujii
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Yamada
- Physical Chemistry for Life Science Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Nakane
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Kaneyuki Kawamae
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
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12
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Kobayashi S, Tokairin Y, Miyakoshi T, Saito T, Nagaoka K, Ikeda Y, Fujii J, Konno H. Quantitative analysis of γ-glutamylpeptides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and application for γ-glutamyltransferase assays. Anal Biochem 2019; 578:13-22. [PMID: 31059677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2019.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
γ-Glutamylpeptides are largely produced via the action of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase or γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT). GGT transfers the γ-glutamyl moiety from glutathione (GSH) and other γ-glutamyl compounds to amino acids, peptides, or water. A conventional GGT assay employs a synthetic donor substrate, which facilitates monitoring cleavage activity by means of colorimetric analyses but provides no information on the resulting γ-glutamylpeptides. In this study, we report on the use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to quantitatively measure the levels of 21 γ-glutamylpeptides including GSH and 45 amino acids, including Cys. Authentic compounds consisting of 17 chemically synthesized and commercially available 4 γ-glutamylpeptides were adopted as references. We applied this method to the characterization of γ-glutamylpeptides in blood plasma and livers of mice that had been treated with an overdose of acetaminophen. The established LC-MS-based assay was found to be useful for characterizing the γ-glutamylation reaction under in vivo and in vitro conditions and was clearly helpful for understanding the physiological significance of the production of γ-glutamylpeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Tokairin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Takeru Miyakoshi
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Takuya Saito
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Keita Nagaoka
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Ikeda
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Konno
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
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13
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Lewerenz J, Ates G, Methner A, Conrad M, Maher P. Oxytosis/Ferroptosis-(Re-) Emerging Roles for Oxidative Stress-Dependent Non-apoptotic Cell Death in Diseases of the Central Nervous System. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:214. [PMID: 29731704 PMCID: PMC5920049 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nerve cell death is the hallmark of many neurological diseases, the processes underlying this death are still poorly defined. However, there is a general consensus that neuronal cell death predominantly proceeds by regulated processes. Almost 30 years ago, a cell death pathway eventually named oxytosis was described in neuronal cells that involved glutathione depletion, reactive oxygen species production, lipoxygenase activation, and calcium influx. More recently, a cell death pathway that involved many of the same steps was described in tumor cells and termed ferroptosis due to a dependence on iron. Since then there has been a great deal of discussion in the literature about whether these are two distinct pathways or cell type- and insult-dependent variations on the same pathway. In this review, we compare and contrast in detail the commonalities and distinctions between the two pathways concluding that the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of ferroptosis and oxytosis are highly similar if not identical. Thus, we suggest that oxytosis and ferroptosis should be regarded as two names for the same cell death pathway. In addition, we describe the potential physiological relevance of oxytosis/ferroptosis in multiple neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lewerenz
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Gamze Ates
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Axel Methner
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center and Focus Program Translational Neuroscience of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Pamela Maher
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
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14
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Lee J, Kang E, Kobayashi S, Homma T, Sato H, Seo H, Fujii J. The viability of primary hepatocytes is maintained under a low cysteine-glutathione redox state with a marked elevation in ophthalmic acid production. Exp Cell Res 2017; 361:178-191. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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