Genistein reduces heparan sulfate accumulation in human mucolipidosis II skin fibroblasts

Architecture of a dual biocompatible platform to immobilize genistin: fabrication with physio-chemical and in vitro evaluation

The design of biocompatible cell culture substrates and electrospun nanofibers can improve cell proliferation and behavior in laboratory conditions for tissue engineering applications in medicine. In this research, genistin was obtained by extracting from soybean meal powder, and then by adding polycaprolactone (PCL), genistin nanocapsules were prepared. For the first time, we used a lipophilic nanophase (encapsulated genistin) coated in a hydrophilic nanophase (gelatin /polyvinyl alcohol) as a dual nanosystem by the electrospinning method. In the approach, the nanofibers mimic the natural extracellular matrix, interact favorably with cells being cultured from one side, and raise the local concentration of a bioactive compound at the cell surface. The encapsulated drug which was inserted in fibers with a loading percentage of 92.01% showed appropriate and significant controlled release using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To prove the experiments, analysis using an ultraviolet-visible spectrometer (UV-Vis), 1H NMR spectrometer, Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (FTIR), mechanical test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microscope transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed. The sample synthesized with 40% drug using the MTT method exhibited remarkable biological effects, viability, and non-toxicity. Additionally, significant proliferation and adhesion on the mouse fibroblast cell line L929 were observed within a 72-h timeframe.

In vitro substrate reduction, chaperone and immunomodulation treatments reduce heparan sulfate in mucolipidosis III human fibroblasts

Mucolipidosis II and III (MLII and MLIII) are autosomal recessive diseases caused by pathogenic variants in GNPTAB and GNPTG genes that lead to defects in GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase. This enzyme adds mannose 6-phosphate residues to lysosomal hydrolases, which allows enzymes to enter lysosomes. Defective GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase causes substrate accumulation and inflammation. These diseases have no treatment, and we hypothesized that the use of substrate reduction therapy and immunomodulation may be beneficial at the cell level and as a future therapeutic approach. Fibroblasts from two patients with MLIII alpha/beta and 2 patients with MLIII gamma as well as from one healthy control were treated with 10 µM miglustat, 20 µM genistein, and 20 µM thalidomide independently. ELISA assay and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy were used to evaluate the presence of heparan sulfate (HS) and the impact on substrate accumulation. ELISA assay showed HS reduction in all patients with the different treatments used (p=0.05). HS reduction was also observed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Our study produced encouraging results, since the reduction in substrate accumulation, even partial, may offer benefits to the phenotype of patients with inborn errors of metabolism.

Complex Changes in the Efficiency of the Expression of Many Genes in Monogenic Diseases, Mucopolysaccharidoses, May Arise from Significant Disturbances in the Levels of Factors Involved in the Gene Expression Regulation Processes

Monogenic diseases are primarily caused by mutations in a single gene; thus, they are commonly recognized as genetic disorders with the simplest mechanisms. However, recent studies have indicated that the molecular mechanisms of monogenic diseases can be unexpectedly complicated, and their understanding requires complex studies at the molecular level. Previously, we have demonstrated that in mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), a group of monogenic lysosomal storage diseases, several hundreds of genes reveal significant changes in the expression of various genes. Although the secondary effects of the primary biochemical defect and the inefficient degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) might be considered, the scale of the changes in the expression of a large fraction of genes cannot be explained by a block in one biochemical pathway. Here, we demonstrate that in cellular models of 11 types of MPS, the expression of genes coding for proteins involved in the regulation of the expression of many other genes at various stages (such as signal transduction, transcription, splicing, RNA degradation, translation, and others) is significantly disturbed relative to the control cells. This conclusion was based on transcriptomic studies, supported by biochemical analyses of levels of selected proteins encoded by genes revealing an especially high level of dysregulation in MPS (EXOSC9, SRSF10, RPL23, and NOTCH3 proteins were investigated). Interestingly, the reduction in GAGs levels, through the inhibition of their synthesis normalized the amounts of EXOSC9, RPL23, and NOTCH3 in some (but not all) MPS types, while the levels of SRSF10 could not be corrected in this way. These results indicate that different mechanisms are involved in the dysregulation of the expression of various genes in MPS, pointing to a potential explanation for the inability of some therapies (such as enzyme replacement therapy or substrate reduction therapy) to fully correct the physiology of MPS patients. We suggest that the disturbed expression of some genes, which appears as secondary or tertiary effects of GAG storage, might not be reversible, even after a reduction in the amounts of the storage material.

Mucolipidoses Overview: Past, Present, and Future

Mucolipidosis II and III (ML II/III) are caused by a deficiency of uridine-diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine: lysosomal-enzyme-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase, EC2.7.8.17), which tags lysosomal enzymes with a mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) marker for transport to the lysosome. The process is performed by a sequential two-step process: first, GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase catalyzes the transfer of GlcNAc-1-phosphate to the selected mannose residues on lysosomal enzymes in the cis-Golgi network. The second step removes GlcNAc from lysosomal enzymes by N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphodiester α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (uncovering enzyme) and exposes the mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) residues in the trans-Golgi network, in which the enzymes are targeted to the lysosomes by M6Preceptors. A deficiency of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase causes the hypersecretion of lysosomal enzymes out of cells, resulting in a shortage of multiple lysosomal enzymes within lysosomes. Due to a lack of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase, the accumulation of cholesterol, phospholipids, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and other undegraded substrates occurs in the lysosomes. Clinically, ML II and ML III exhibit quite similar manifestations to mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs), including specific skeletal deformities known as dysostosis multiplex and gingival hyperplasia. The life expectancy is less than 10 years in the severe type, and there is no definitive treatment for this disease. In this review, we have described the updated diagnosis and therapy on ML II/III.

Dietary Management of Skin Health: The Role of Genistein

In women, aging and declining estrogen levels are associated with several cutaneous changes, many of which can be reversed or improved by estrogen supplementation. Two estrogen receptors—α and β—have been cloned and found in various tissue types. Epidermal thinning, declining dermal collagen content, diminished skin moisture, decreased laxity, and impaired wound healing have been reported in postmenopausal women. Experimental and clinical studies in postmenopausal conditions indicate that estrogen deprivation is associated with dryness, atrophy, fine wrinkling, and poor wound healing. The isoflavone genistein binds to estrogen receptor β and has been reported to improve skin changes. This review article will focus on the effects of genistein on skin health.

Modulation of expression of genes involved in glycosaminoglycan metabolism and lysosome biogenesis by flavonoids

Flavonoids were found previously to modulate efficiency of synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), compounds which are accumulated in cells of patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs). The aim of this work was to determine effects of different flavonoids (genistein, kaempferol, daidzein) used alone or in combinations, on expression of genes coding for proteins involved in GAG metabolism. Analyses with DNA microarray, followed by real-time qRT-PCR revealed that genistein, kaempferol and combination of these two compounds induced dose- and time-dependent remarkable alterations in transcript profiles of GAG metabolism genes in cultures of wild-type human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Interestingly, effects of the mixture of genistein and kaempferol were stronger than those revealed by any of these compounds used alone. Similarly, the most effective reduction in levels of GAG production, in both HDFa and MPS II cells, was observed in the presence of genistein, keampferol and combination of these compounds. Forty five genes were chosen for further verification not only in HDFa, but also in MPS II fibroblasts by using real-time qRT-PCR. Despite effects on GAG metabolism-related genes, we found that genistein, kaempferol and mixture of these compounds significantly stimulated expression of TFEB. Additionally, a decrease in MTOR transcript level was observed at these conditions.