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Tumor Microenvironment and Metabolism: Role of the Mitochondrial Melatonergic Pathway in Determining Intercellular Interactions in a New Dynamic Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010311. [PMID: 36613754 PMCID: PMC9820362 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the role of alterations in mitochondrial metabolism in the pathoetiology and pathophysiology of cancers, including within the array of diverse cells that can form a given tumor microenvironment. The 'exhaustion' in natural killer cells and CD8+ t cells as well as the tolerogenic nature of dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment seems determined by variations in mitochondrial function. Recent work has highlighted the important role played by the melatonergic pathway in optimizing mitochondrial function, limiting ROS production, endogenous antioxidants upregulation and consequent impacts of mitochondrial ROS on ROS-dependent microRNAs, thereby impacting on patterned gene expression. Within the tumor microenvironment, the tumor, in a quest for survival, seeks to 'dominate' the dynamic intercellular interactions by limiting the capacity of cells to optimally function, via the regulation of their mitochondrial melatonergic pathway. One aspect of this is the tumor's upregulation of kynurenine and the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which acts to metabolize melatonin and increase the N-acetylserotonin/melatonin ratio, with effluxed N-acetylserotonin acting as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mimic via its activation of the BDNF receptor, TrkB, thereby increasing the survival and proliferation of tumors and cancer stem-like cells. This article highlights how many of the known regulators of cells in the tumor microenvironment can be downstream of the mitochondrial melatonergic pathway regulation. Future research and treatment implications are indicated.
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Eugster PJ, Dunand M, Grund B, Ivanyuk A, Fogarasi Szabo N, Bardinet C, Abid K, Buclin T, Grouzmann E, Chtioui H. Quantification of serotonin and eight of its metabolites in plasma of healthy volunteers by mass spectrometry. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 535:19-26. [PMID: 35963304 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin is transformed into melatonin under the control of the light/dark cycle, representing a cornerstone of circadian rhythmicity. Serotonin also undergoes extensive metabolism to produce 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of serotonin secreting neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). While serotonin, melatonin and their metabolites are part of an integrated comprehensive system, human observations about their respective plasma concentrations are still limited. We report here for the first time a multiplex UHPLC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of serotonin, 5-HIAA, 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTPL), N-acetyl-serotonin (NAS), Mel, 6-OH-Mel, 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTPL), and 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid (5-MIAA) in human plasma. Analytes were extracted by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction. Plasma concentrations for these analytes were determined in 102 healthy volunteers. The LLOQ of the assay ranges from 2.2 nM for serotonin to 1.0 pM for 6-OH-Mel. This sensitivity enables the quantification of circulating serotonin, 5-HIAA, NAS, Mel, and 5-MIAA, even at their lowest diurnal concentrations. This assay will enable specific, precise and accurate measurement of serotonin, Mel and their metabolites to draw a detailed picture of this complex pineal metabolism, allowing a dynamic understanding of these pathways and providing promising biomarkers and a metabolic signature for serotonin-secreting NETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe J Eugster
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Marielle Dunand
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Baptiste Grund
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anton Ivanyuk
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Fogarasi Szabo
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carine Bardinet
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Karim Abid
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Buclin
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric Grouzmann
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Haithem Chtioui
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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Nous A, Wittens MMJ, Vermeiren Y, De Deyn PP, Van Broeckhoven C, Nagels G, Smolders I, Engelborghs S. Serum Daytime Melatonin Levels Reflect Cerebrospinal Fluid Melatonin Levels in Alzheimer's Disease but Are Not Correlated with Cognitive Decline. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:693-704. [PMID: 34366353 PMCID: PMC8543270 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background: Nocturnal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood melatonin levels are altered in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, literature remains inconclusive on daytime blood melatonin levels. A positive correlation between melatonin levels and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in AD subjects has been evidenced following cross-sectional analyses. Whereas a correlation between serum and spinal CSF melatonin has been shown in healthy volunteers, an equal investigation in AD patients still has to be undertaken. Objective: 1) To evaluate whether serum melatonin levels correlate with spinal CSF melatonin levels in AD. 2) To compare daytime CSF and serum melatonin levels between patients with AD dementia, mild cognitive impairment due to AD, and healthy controls, and to evaluate whether melatonin can affect cognitive decline in AD. Methods: Subjects with AD and healthy controls included in two existing cohorts, of whom a CSF and serum sample was available at the neurobiobank and had at least 6 months of neuropsychological follow-up, were included in the present study. Melatonin concentrations were measured with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Daytime serum melatonin levels correlated with spinal CSF melatonin levels in AD (r = 0.751, p < 0.001). No significant differences regarding daytime melatonin levels were found between patients and controls. No correlations were observed between daytime melatonin levels and MMSE score changes. Conclusion: Daytime serum melatonin accurately reflects CSF melatonin levels in AD, raising the possibility to assess melatonin alterations by solely performing blood sampling if also confirmed for night-time values. However, daytime melatonin levels are not associated with changes of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Nous
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mandy Melissa Jane Wittens
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yannick Vermeiren
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Chair Group of Nutritional Biology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Peter Paul De Deyn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp Belgium
| | - Guy Nagels
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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