Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine induces angiogenic differentiations in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

An overview on glycation: molecular mechanisms, impact on proteins, pathogenesis, and inhibition

The formation of a heterogeneous set of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is the final outcome of a non-enzymatic process that occurs in vivo on long-life biomolecules. This process, known as glycation, starts with the reaction between reducing sugars, or their autoxidation products, with the amino groups of proteins, DNA, or lipids, thus gaining relevance under hyperglycemic conditions. Once AGEs are formed, they might affect the biological function of the biomacromolecule and, therefore, induce the development of pathophysiological events. In fact, the accumulation of AGEs has been pointed as a triggering factor of obesity, diabetes-related diseases, coronary artery disease, neurological disorders, or chronic renal failure, among others. Given the deleterious consequences of glycation, evolution has designed endogenous mechanisms to undo glycation or to prevent it. In addition, many exogenous molecules have also emerged as powerful glycation inhibitors. This review aims to provide an overview on what glycation is. It starts by explaining the similarities and differences between glycation and glycosylation. Then, it describes in detail the molecular mechanism underlying glycation reactions, and the bio-molecular targets with higher propensity to be glycated. Next, it discusses the precise effects of glycation on protein structure, function, and aggregation, and how computational chemistry has provided insights on these aspects. Finally, it reports the most prevalent diseases induced by glycation, and the endogenous mechanisms and the current therapeutic interventions against it.

1-Amino-1-deoxy-d-fructose ("fructosamine") and its derivatives

Fructosamine has long been considered as a key intermediate of the Maillard reaction, which to a large extent is responsible for specific aroma, taste, and color formation in thermally processed or dehydrated foods. Since the 1980s, however, as a product of the Amadori rearrangement reaction between glucose and biologically significant amines such as proteins, fructosamine has experienced a boom in biomedical research, mainly due to its relevance to pathologies in diabetes and aging. In this chapter, we assess the scope of the knowledge on and applications of fructosamine-related molecules in chemistry, food, and health sciences, as reflected mostly in publications within the past decade. Methods of fructosamine synthesis and analysis, its chemical, and biological properties, and degradation reactions, together with fructosamine-modifying and -recognizing proteins are surveyed.

Differences of Angiogenesis Factors in Tumor and Diabetes Mellitus

Angiogenesis, as a process occurring under the regulation of a variety of factors, is one of the important ways of vascular development. It coexists in a variety of pathological and physiological processes. Now a large number of studies have proved that tumor growth, metastasis, and various vascular complications of diabetes are closely related to angiogenesis, and an increasing number of studies have shown that there are many common factors between the two. But angiogenesis is the opposite of the two: it is enhanced in tumors and suppressed in diabetes. Therefore, this review discusses the causes of the phenomenon from the expression of various factors affecting angiogenesis in these two diseases and their effects on angiogenesis in the relevant microenvironment, as well as the application status of these factors or cells as therapeutic targets in the treatment of these two diseases.

A UPLC-MRM-MS method for comprehensive profiling of Amadori compound-modified phosphatidylethanolamines in human plasma

Phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) are targets of non-enzymatic glycation, a chemical process that occurs between glucose and primary amine-containing biomolecules. As the early-stage non-enzymatic glycation products of PE, Amadori-PEs are implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, only a few Amadori-PE molecular species have been identified so far; a comprehensive profiling of these glycated PE species is needed to establish their roles in disease pathology. Herein, based on our previous work using liquid chromatography-coupled neutral loss scanning and product ion scanning tandem mass spectrometry (LC-NLS-MS and LC-PIS-MS) in tandem, we extend identification of Amadori-PE to the low-abundance species, which is facilitated by using plasma lipids glycated in vitro. The confidence of identification is improved by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and chromatographic retention time regression. A LC-coupled multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM-MS) assay is further developed for more sensitive quantitation of the Amadori compound-modified lipids. Using synthesized stable isotope-labeled Amadori lipids as internal standards, levels of 142 Amadori-PEs and 33 Amadori-LysoPEs are determined in the NIST human plasma standard reference material. These values may serve as an important reference for future investigations of Amadori-modified lipids in human diseases.

Comprehensive Identification of Amadori Compound-Modified Phosphatidylethanolamines in Human Plasma

Amadori compound modified lipids are the result of nonenzymatic glycation and play an important role in several physiological and pathological processes. However, glycation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), the most abundant amine-containing lipid in blood plasma, is underexplored and so far only a few glycated PEs have been reported. Herein, we report comprehensive profiling of Amadori-PE and -LysoPE species in human plasma. Using synthetic standards, we first optimized the enrichment procedure for extracting Amadori-PE/LysoPE from plasma. On the basis of the characteristic neutral losses of 303 Da in positive and 162 Da in negative ionization mode, we then applied neural loss scanning-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-NLS-MS) to identify potentially glycated PE and LysoPE, which was followed by targeted product ion scanning (LC-PIS-MS) to confidently confirm the fatty acyl substitutions of the modified lipids. A total of 20 Amadori-LysoPE and 62 Amadori-PE species, including diacyl, plasmanyl, and plasmenyl, were identified. Among them, the concentrations of 12 Amarodi-LysoPE and 54 Amadori-PE were also quantified in native human plasma, using stable isotope labeled Amadori lipids as internal standards.

Metagenomics and Faecal Metabolomics Integrative Analysis towards the Impaired Glucose Regulation and Type 2 Diabetes in Uyghur-Related Omics

OBJECTIVE

Gut microbiota and their metabolites play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This research was designed to study the relationship between gut microbiota and faecal metabolites of Uyghur newly onset T2DM and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 different glycemic Uyghur subjects were enrolled and divided into T2DM, IGR, and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) groups. Metagenomics and LC-MS-based untargeted faecal metabolomics were employed. Correlations between bacterial composition and faecal metabolomics were evaluated.

RESULTS

We discovered that the composition and diversity of gut microbiota in newly onset T2DM and IGR were different from those in NGT. The α-diversity was higher in NGT than in T2DM and IGR; β-diversity analysis revealed apparent differences in the bacterial community structures between patients with T2DM, IGR, and NGT. LC-MS faecal metabolomics analysis discovered different metabolomics features in the three groups. Alchornoic acid, PE (14 : 0/20 : 3), PI, L-tyrosine, LysoPC (15 : 0), protorifamycin I, pimelic acid, epothilone A, 7-dehydro-desmosterol, L-lysine, LysoPC (14 : 1), and teasterone are the most significant differential enriched metabolites. Most of the differential enriched metabolites were involved in metabolic processes, including carbohydrate metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Procrustes analysis and correlation analysis identified correlations between gut microbiota and faecal metabolites. Matricin was positively correlated with Bacteroides and negatively correlated with Actinobacteria; protorifamycin I was negatively correlated with Actinobacteria; epothilone A was negatively correlated with Actinobacteria and positively correlated with Firmicutes; PA was positively correlated with Bacteroides and negatively correlated with Firmicutes; and cristacarpin was positively correlated with Actinobacteria; however, this correlation relationship does not imply causality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study used joint metagenomics and metabolomics analyses to elucidate the relationship between gut microbiota and faecal metabolites in different glycemic groups, and the result suggested that metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis occurred in Uyghur T2DM and IGR. The results provide a theoretical basis for studying the pathological mechanism for further research.

Structural, biological and biophysical properties of glycated and glycoxidized phosphatidylethanolamines

Glycation and glycoxidation of proteins and peptides have been intensively studied and are considered as reliable diagnostic biomarkers of hyperglycemia and early stages of type II diabetes. However, glucose can also react with primary amino groups present in other cellular components, such as aminophospholipids (aminoPLs). Although it is proposed that glycated aminoPLs can induce many cellular responses and contribute to the development and progression of diabetes, the routes of their formation and their biological roles are only partially revealed. The same is true for the influence of glucose-derived modifications on the biophysical properties of PLs. Here we studied structural, signaling, and biophysical properties of glycated and glycoxidized phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs). By combining high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy it was possible to deduce the structures of several intermediates indicating an oxidative cleavage of the Amadori product yielding glycoxidized PEs including advanced glycation end products, such as carboxyethyl- and carboxymethyl-ethanolamines. The pro-oxidative role of glycated PEs was demonstrated and further associated with several cellular responses including activation of NFκB signaling pathways. Label free proteomics indicated significant alterations in proteins regulating cellular metabolisms. Finally, the biophysical properties of PL membranes changed significantly upon PE glycation, such as melting temperature (Tm), membrane surface charge, and ion transport across the phospholipid bilayer.

Detection and biological activities of carboxyethylpyrrole ethanolamine phospholipids (CEP-EPs)

Oxidation of docosahexaenoate phospholipids produces 4-hydroxy-7-oxo-hept-5-eonyl phospholipids (HOHA-PLs) that react with protein lysyl ε-amino residues to generate 2-ω-carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) derivatives, endogenous factors that induce angiogenesis in the retina and tumors. It seemed likely, but remained unproven, that HOHA-PLs react with ethanolamine phospholipids (EPs) in vivo to generate CEP-EPs. We now show that CEP-EPs are present in human blood at 4.6-fold higher levels in age-related macular degeneration plasma than in normal plasma. We also show that CEP-EPs are pro-angiogenic, inducing tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells by activating Toll-like receptor 2. CEP-EP levels may be a useful biomarker for clinical assessment of AMD risk and CEP-associated tumor progression and a tool for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.

Development of a direct in-matrix extraction (DIME) protocol for MALDI-TOF-MS detection of glycated phospholipids in heat-treated food samples

In foodstuffs, one of the main factors inducing modifications in phospholipids (PLs) structure is the heat treatment. Among PLs, only phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines, due to their free amino group, can be involved in Maillard reaction and can form adducts with reducing sugars, besides other by-products called advanced glycation end-products. To date, glycated lipid products are less characterized in comparison to proteins. The aim of this work was to develop a novel, rapid and sensitive extraction protocol for the detection and characterization of modified PLs (glycated and oxidized) by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). At first, to investigate the formation of glycated and/or short chain by-products in different classes of PLs, representative standards were heated with or without sugar (lactose or glucose) and subjected to traditional lipid extraction methods as Bligh and Dyer and to the novel direct in matrix extraction (DIME) using 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene as preconcentrating matrix. MALDI-MS analysis in negative ion mode allowed detecting glycation and oxidation products both on fatty acid and glucose moieties. Then, the procedure was successfully applied to different heat-treated and powdered samples (milk powders, pasteurized milk, ultra-high-temperature milk and soy flour) for the detection of modified PLs in complex foods. The currently developed DIME protocol could be a powerful tool for understanding lipid glycation also in biological samples.

Lipid peroxidation generates biologically active phospholipids including oxidatively N-modified phospholipids

Peroxidation of membranes and lipoproteins converts "inert" phospholipids into a plethora of oxidatively modified phospholipids (oxPL) that can act as signaling molecules. In this review, we will discuss four major classes of oxPL: mildly oxygenated phospholipids, phospholipids with oxidatively truncated acyl chains, phospholipids with cyclized acyl chains, and phospholipids that have been oxidatively N-modified on their headgroups by reactive lipid species. For each class of oxPL we will review the chemical mechanisms of their formation, the evidence for their formation in biological samples, the biological activities and signaling pathways associated with them, and the catabolic pathways for their elimination. We will end by briefly highlighting some of the critical questions that remain about the role of oxPL in physiology and disease.

Modified phosphatidylethanolamines induce different levels of cytokine expression in monocytes and dendritic cells

Glycation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a reaction that is known to occur under the chronic hyperglycemic conditions found in diabetes. Glycated phosphatidylethanolamines were found in plasma and atherosclerotic plaques of diabetic patients, and its presence was correlated with increased oxidative stress. Moreover, upregulation of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators can be observed not only in diabetes, but also under oxidized phosphatidylcholine stimulation. In this study, we evaluate the effect of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) and linoleoyl-palmitoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PLPE) structural oxidation, glycation and glycoxidation, on monocyte and myeloid dendritic cell stimulation. Expression of cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1β and TNF-α, were determined using flow cytometry after cell stimulations with native PEs, oxidized, glycated and glycoxidized PEs. Native PE, PLPE and DPPE, and all modified PEs were able to increase the stimulation levels of monocytes and mDCs. Generally, in monocytes and mDCs stimulation, GluOxPLPE and GluDPPE were the PLPE/DPPE modifications that induced the most pronounced rise in cytokine production. However, GluOxDPPE was the DPPE modification that produced the lowest stimulation levels of mDCs and monocytes. Our results indicate that glycated PE and glycoxidized PE may have an important contribution to the low-grade systemic inflammation associated with diabetes and to the development of diabetic complications.

Non-enzymatic modification of aminophospholipids by carbonyl-amine reactions

Non-enzymatic modification of aminophospholipids by lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes and reducing sugars through carbonyl-amine reactions are thought to contribute to the age-related deterioration of cellular membranes and to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Much evidence demonstrates the modification of aminophospholipids by glycation, glycoxidation and lipoxidation reactions. Therefore, a number of early and advanced Maillard reaction-lipid products have been detected and quantified in different biological membranes. These modifications may be accumulated during aging and diabetes, introducing changes in cell membrane physico-chemical and biological properties.

Examining the role of lipid mediators in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most disabling complication of diabetes, affecting 65% of patients after 10 years of the disease. Current treatment options for diabetic retinopathy are highly invasive and fall short of complete amelioration of the disease. Understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy is critical to the development of more effective treatment options. Diabetic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia are the main metabolic insults that affect retinal degeneration in diabetes. Although the role of hyperglycemia in inducing diabetic retinopathy has been studied in detail, much less attention has been paid to dyslipidemia. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated a strong association between dyslipidemia and development of diabetic retinopathy, highlighting the importance of understanding the exact changes in retinal lipid metabolism in diabetes. This review describes what is known on the role of dyslipidemia in the development of diabetic retinopathy, with a focus on retinal-specific lipid metabolism and its dysregulation in diabetes.

Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine up-regulates telomerase activity in PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells

Several lines of experimental data have highlighted a key role of Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (Amadori-PE) in the development of diabetic complications. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that diabetes mellitus could be a risk factor for some cancers. A characteristic of cancer cells is their immortal phenotype, and the enzyme telomerase contributes to the infinite replicative potential of cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to obtain new information about the effect of Amadori-PE on the regulation of telomerase in PANC-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells. Amadori-PE enhanced cellular telomerase in a time- and dose-dependent manner by up-regulating hTERT expression through induction of c-myc. These results provide experimental evidence for a novel role of Amadori-PE in linking diabetes and cancer.

Identification of free radicals in oxidized and glycoxidized phosphatidylethanolamines by spin trapping combined with tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Nonenzymatic glycation of phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) seems to a have a role in angiogenesis and atherosclerosis. Glycated PEs are more easily oxidized, enhancing oxidative stress. This study aims to evaluate the influence of glycation on the formation of intermediate radical species during oxidation of glycated PEs.

METHODS

In the present study, the radical intermediaries formed during the oxidation of palmitoyl-lineoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (PLPE) and glycated PLPE (gPLPE) were trapped using a spin trap (DMPO) and the radical adducts were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Mass spectra were acquired using a electrospray Q-TOF 2 mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

Several spin adducts of PLPE and gPLPE were identified, corresponding to carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals. Interpretation of the MS/MS spectra showed the existence of different sites where radical formation occurred, at the sn-2 acyl chain, ethanolamine moiety (particularly in C-1) and, in the case of glycated derivatives, also in the glucose moiety (particularly in C-3, C-4 and C-5).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested the presence of more sites susceptible to oxidation in glycated PLPE, which may be responsible for the increase in the oxidative reaction rate occurring in glycated compounds.

Reactivity of a phospholipid monolayer model under periodic boundary conditions: a density functional theory study of the Schiff base formation between phosphatidylethanolamine and acetaldehyde

A mechanism for the formation of the Schiff base between an acetaldehyde and an amine-phospholipid monolayer model based on Dmol3/density functional theory calculations under periodic boundary conditions was constructed. This is the first time such a system has been modeled to examine its chemical reactivity at this computation level. Each unit cell contains two phospholipid molecules, one acetaldehyde molecule, and nine water molecules. One of the amine-phospholipid molecules in the cell possesses a neutral amino group that is used to model the nucleophilic attack on the carboxyl group of acetaldehyde, whereas the other has a charged amino group acting as a proton donor. The nine water molecules form a hydrogen bond network along the polar heads of the phospholipids that facilitates very fast proton conduction at the interface. Using periodic boundary conditions afforded proton transfer between different cells. The reaction takes place in two steps, namely, (1) formation of a carbinolamine and (2) its dehydration to the Schiff base. The carbinolamine is the primary reaction intermediate, and dehydration is the rate-determining step of the process, consistent with available experimental evidence for similar reactions. On the basis of the results, the cell membrane surface environment may boost phospholipid glycation via a neighboring catalyst effect.

Lipid glycation and protein glycation in diabetes and atherosclerosis

Recent instrumental analyses using a hybrid quadrupole/linear ion trap spectrometer in LC-MS/MS have demonstrated that the Maillard reaction progresses not only on proteins but also on amino residues of membrane lipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), thus forming Amadori-PE (deoxy-D: -fructosyl PE) as the principal products. The plasma Amadori-PE level is 0.08 mol% of the total PE in healthy subjects and 0.15-0.29 mol% in diabetic patients. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxal are the most effective lipid glycation inhibitors, and the PE-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate adduct is detectable in human red blood cells. These findings are beneficial for developing a potential clinical marker for glycemic control as well as potential compounds to prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. Glucose and other aldehydes, such as glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and glycolaldehyde, react with the amino residues of proteins to form Amadori products and Heynes rearrangement products. Because several advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibitors such as pyridoxamine and benfotiamine inhibit the development of retinopathy and neuropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, AGEs may play a role in the development of diabetic complications. In the present review, we describe the recent progress and future applications of the Maillard reaction research regarding lipid and protein modifications in diabetes and atherosclerosis.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for measurement of N-modified phosphatidylethanolamines

N-Acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) are synthesised in response to stress in a variety of organisms from bacteria to humans. More recently, nonenzymatic modification of the ethanolamine headgroup of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) by various aldehydes, including levuglandins/isoketals (which are gamma-ketoaldehydes [gammaKAs] derived from arachidonic acid), has also been demonstrated. The levels of these various N-modified PEs formed during stress and their biological significance remain to be fully characterized. Such studies require an accurate, facile, and cost-effective method for quantifying N-modified PEs. Previously, NAPE and some of the nonenzymatically N-modified PE species have been quantified by mass spectrometry after hydrolysis to their constituent N-acylethanolamine by enzymatic hydrolysis, most typically with Streptomyces chromofuscus phospholipase D. However, enzymatic hydrolysis is not cost-effective for routine analysis of a large number of samples, and hydrolytic efficiency may vary for different N-modified PEs, making quantitation more difficult. Therefore, we sought a robust and inexpensive chemical hydrolysis approach. Methylamine (CH(3)NH(2))-mediated deacylation has previously been used in headgroup analysis of phosphatidylinositol phosphates. Therefore, we developed an accurate assay for NAPEs and gammaKA-PEs using CH(3)NH(2)-mediated deacylation and quantitation of the resulting glycerophospho-N-modified ethanolamines by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

LC-MS/MS analysis of carboxymethylated and carboxyethylated phosphatidylethanolamines in human erythrocytes and blood plasma

An amino group of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is considered as a target for nonenzymatic glycation, and the potential involvement of lipid glycation in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications has generated interest. However, unlike an early glycation product of PE (Amadori-PE), the occurrence and roles of advanced glycation end products of PE (AGE-PE) in vivo have been unclear. Here, we developed an LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of AGE-PE [carboxymethyl-PE (CM-PE) and carboxyethyl-PE (CE-PE)]. Collision-induced dissociation of CM-PE and CE-PE produced characteristic ions, permitting neutral loss scanning (NLS) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of AGE-PE. By NLS analysis, a series of AGE-PE molecular species was detected in human erythrocytes and blood plasma. In LC-MS/MS analysis, MRM enabled the separation and determination of the predominant AGE-PE species. Between healthy subjects and diabetic patients, no significant differences were observed in AGE-PE concentrations in erythrocytes and plasma, whereas Amadori-PE concentrations were higher in diabetic patients. These results provide direct evidence for the presence of AGE-PE in human blood, and indicated that, compared with Amadori-PE, AGE-PE is less likely to be accumulated in diabetic blood. The presently developed LC-MS/MS method appears to be a powerful tool for understanding in vivo lipid glycation and its pathophysiological consequence.

Analysis of Retina and Erythrocyte Glycerophospholipid Alterations in a Rat Model of Type 1 Diabetes

An automated tandem mass spectrometry based analysis employing precursor ion and neutral loss scans in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer has been employed to identify and quantify changes in the abundances of glycerophospholipids extracted from retina and erythrocytes in a rat streptozotocin model of type 1 diabetes, 6 weeks and 36 weeks following induction of diabetes, compared to age matched nondiabetic controls. The utility of an 'internal standard' method compared to an 'internal standard free' method for quantification of differences in the abundances of specific lipid ions was evaluated in both retina and erythrocyte lipid extracts. In retina, equivalent results were obtained by using the internal standard and 'internal standard free' methods for quantification. In erythrocytes, the two methods of analysis yielded significantly different results, suggesting that factors intrinsic to particular sample types may influence the outcome of label-free lipidome quantification approaches.Overall increases (~25% to ~35%) in the abundances of major retina glycerophospholipid classes were demonstrated in rats at 6 weeks of diabetes, relative to control animals. However, at 36 weeks of diabetes, subsequent overall decreases in retina glycerophosphocholine and glycerophosphoethanolamine abundances of 16% and 33%, respectively, were observed. Additionally, retina and erythrocyte glycerophosphocholine lipids at both 6 week and 36 weeks of diabetes exhibited increased incorporation of linoleic acid((18:2n6)) and a decrease in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA((22:6n3))) content. Finally, an approximately 5-fold increase in the abundances of specific glycated glycerophosphoethanolamine (Amadori-GPEtn) lipids were observed in the retina of 36 week diabetic rats, with a corresponding 1.6 fold increase of Amadori-GPEtn lipids in diabetic erythrocytes.

Analysis of amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine in the plasma of healthy subjects and diabetic patients by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Peroxidized phospholipid-mediated cytotoxity, the abnormal increase in the levels of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) found in the plasma of type 2 diabetic patients, is involved in the pathophysiology of many diseases. PCOOH accumulation may be related to Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (deoxy-D-fructosyl PE, or Amadori-PE) because Amadori-PE causes oxidative stress. However, the occurrence of lipid glycation products, including Amadori-PE, in vivo remains unclear. We developed a method to analyze Amadori-PE by using quadrupole/linear ion-trap mass spectrometry, the Applied Biosystems 4000 Q TRAP. We found that pyridoxals could easily be condensed with PE before the glucose-PE reaction occurred. The PE-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate adduct was detectable in human red blood cells, and the increased plasma Amadori-PE concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was decreased by dietary supplementation with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Therefore, it is likely that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate acts as a lipid glycation inhibitor in vivo, and this may contribute to diabetes prevention.

Associated links among mtDNA glycation, oxidative stress and colony sectorization in Metarhizium anisopliae

Mycelial colonies of filamentous fungi often deteriorate when maintained on artificial media, and this can take the form of sterile sectors. We previously established that sectorization by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae correlates with intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study we demonstrate that: (1) H(2)O(2) increases rates of sectorization; (2) a stable strain of M. anisopliae eliminates intracellular ROS more rapidly than an unstable strain; (3) mitochondrial DNA from sectors undergoes a non-enzymatic glycation of deoxyguanosine that is not shown by genomic DNA; (4) the membrane potential of mitochondria in sector cells is decreased in comparison to wild type cells indicating loss of function; (5) DNA glycation changes the properties of DNA and (6) treating wild type mycelia with H(2)O(2) reproduced the glycation pattern shown in sectors. H(2)O(2) also reproduced the morphological changes in mitochondria and lipid droplets that occur in sector cells. Fungal sectorization thus displays aging related developmental impairments resulting from oxidative stress, suggesting a new research direction for studies on fungal colony deterioration. Mitochondrial DNA has a very high AT bias. We speculate that reducing the consequences of glycation could provide an adaptive reason for this.

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a major fatty acid from royal jelly, inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is reported to be a potent pro-angiogenic factor that plays a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Royal jelly (RJ) is a honeybee product containing various proteins, sugars, lipids, vitamins and free amino acids. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), a major fatty acid component of RJ, is known to have various pharmacological effects; its antitumor activity being especially noteworthy. However, the mechanism underlying this effect is unclear. We examined the effect of 10HDA on VEGF-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our findings showed that, 10HDA at 20 µM or more significantly inhibited such proliferation, migration and tube formation. Similarly, 10 µM GM6001, a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor, prevented VEGF-induced migration and tube formation. These findings indicate that 10HDA exerts an inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced angiogenesis, partly by inhibiting both cell proliferation and migration. Further experiments will be needed to clarify the detailed mechanism.

Anti-angiogenic effects of conjugated docosahexaenoic acid in vitro and in vivo

The anti-angiogenic effects of conjugated docosahexaenoic acid (CDHA), which was prepared by an alkaline treatment of docosahexaenoic acid and contained conjugated double bonds, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. CDHA inhibited tube formation by the bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC), and also inhibited the proliferation of BAEC at a concentration of CDHA that suppressed tube formation, but did not influence cell migration. The inhibition of BAEC growth caused by CDHA was accompanied by a marked change in cellular morphology. Nuclear condensation and brightness were observed in Hoechst 33342-stained cells treated with CDHA, indicating that CDHA induced apoptosis in BAEC. We also evaluated the angiogenesis inhibition of CDHA in vivo. The vessel formation which was triggered by tumor cells was clearly suppressed in mice orally given CDHA. Our findings suggest that CDHA has potential use as a therapeutic dietary supplement for minimizing tumor angiogenesis.

Conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis by suppressing the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

We have previously shown that conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid (CEPA), which is prepared by alkaline treatment of eicosapentaenoic acid and contains conjugated double bonds, suppresses tumor growth in vivo. In this earlier study, blood vessels were observed on the tumor surface in control mice, whereas in CEPA-treated mice, no such vessels were observed and the inner part of the tumor was discolored. These observations suggest that CEPA might suppress cancer cell growth through malnutrition due to a suppressive effect on tumor angiogenesis. In this study, the antiangiogenic effects of CEPA were investigated in vitro. CEPA at 5 micromol/L inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) (P < 0.05) and also inhibited VEGF-stimulated migration of HUVEC at a concentration of CEPA that suppressed tube formation (P < 0.05) but did not influence cell proliferation. The antiangiogenic mechanism of CEPA was investigated in vitro by measuring the secretion and expression of well-characterized angiogenic factors associated with cell migration, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). CEPA at a concentration that suppressed tube formation inhibited secretion and mRNA expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in VEGF-stimulated HUVEC (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that CEPA has potential use as a therapeutic dietary supplement for minimizing tumor angiogenesis.

Cyclic strain-mediated matrix metalloproteinase regulation within the vascular endothelium: a force to be reckoned with

The vascular endothelium is a dynamic cellular interface between the vessel wall and the bloodstream, where it regulates the physiological effects of humoral and biomechanical stimuli on vessel tone and remodeling. With respect to the latter hemodynamic stimulus, the endothelium is chronically exposed to mechanical forces in the form of cyclic circumferential strain, resulting from the pulsatile nature of blood flow, and shear stress. Both forces can profoundly modulate endothelial cell (EC) metabolism and function and, under normal physiological conditions, impart an atheroprotective effect that disfavors pathological remodeling of the vessel wall. Moreover, disruption of normal hemodynamic loading can be either causative of or contributory to vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. EC-matrix interactions are a critical determinant of how the vascular endothelium responds to these forces and unquestionably utilizes matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes capable of degrading basement membrane and interstitial matrix molecules, to facilitate force-mediated changes in vascular cell fate. In view of the growing importance of blood flow patterns and mechanotransduction to vascular health and pathophysiology, and considering the potential value of MMPs as therapeutic targets, a timely review of our collective understanding of MMP mechanoregulation and its impact on the vascular endothelium is warranted. More specifically, this review primarily summarizes our current knowledge of how cyclic strain regulates MMP expression and activation within the vascular endothelium and subsequently endeavors to address the direct and indirect consequences of this on vascular EC fate. Possible relevance of these phenomena to vascular endothelial dysfunction and pathological remodeling are also addressed.

Aminophospholipid glycation and its inhibitor screening system: a new role of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate as the inhibitor

Peroxidized phospholipid-mediated cytotoxity is involved in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases [i.e., the abnormal increase of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) found in the plasma of type 2 diabetic patients]. The PCOOH accumulation may relate to Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (deoxy-D-fructosyl PE, or Amadori-PE), because Amadori-PE causes oxidative stress. However, lipid glycation inhibitor has not been discovered yet because of the lack of a lipid glycation model useful for inhibitor screening. We optimized and developed a lipid glycation model considering various reaction conditions (glucose concentration, temperature, buffer type, and pH) between PE and glucose. Using the developed model, various protein glycation inhibitors (aminoguanidine, pyridoxamine, and carnosine), antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, quercetin, and rutin), and other food compounds (L-lysine, L-cysteine, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) were evaluated for their antiglycative properties. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and pyridoxal (vitamin B(6) derivatives) were the most effective antiglycative compounds. These pyridoxals could easily be condensed with PE before the glucose/PE reaction occurred. Because PE-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate adduct was detectable in human red blood cells and the increased plasma Amadori-PE concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was decreased by dietary supplementation of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, it is likely that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate acts as a lipid glycation inhibitor in vivo, which possibly contributes to diabetes prevention.

Ion-trap tandem mass spectrometric analysis of Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine in human plasma with or without diabetes

Peroxidized phospholipid-mediated cytotoxicity is involved in the pathophysiology of diseases [i.e., an abnormal increase of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) in plasma of type 2 diabetic patients]. The PCOOH accumulation may relate to Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (Amadori-PE; deoxy-D-fructosyl phosphatidylethanolamine), because Amadori-PE causes oxidative stress. However, the occurrence of lipid glycation products, including Amadori-PE, in vivo is still unclear. Consequently, we developed an analysis method of Amadori-PE using a quadrupole/linear ion-trap mass spectrometer, the Applied Biosystems QTRAP. In positive ion mode, collision-induced dissociation of Amadori-PE produced a well-characterized diglyceride ion ([M+H-303]+) permitting neutral loss scanning and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). When lipid extract from diabetic plasma was infused directly into the QTRAP, Amadori-PE molecular species could be screened out by neutral loss scanning. Interfacing liquid chromatography with QTRAP mass spectrometry enabled the separation and determination of predominant plasma Amadori-PE species with sensitivity of approximately 0.1 pmol/injection in MRM. The plasma Amadori-PE level was 0.08 mol% of total PE in healthy subjects and 0.15-0.29 mol% in diabetic patients. Furthermore, plasma Amadori-PE levels were positively correlated with PCOOH (a maker for oxidative stress). These results show the involvement between lipid glycation and lipid peroxidation in diabetes pathogenesis.

Cyclic strain-mediated regulation of vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation

Hemodynamic forces exerted by blood flow (cyclic strain, shear stress) affect the initiation and progression of angiogenesis; however, the precise signaling mechanism(s) involved are unknown. In this study, we examine the role of cyclic strain in regulating bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) migration and tube formation, indices of angiogenesis. Considering their well-documented mechanosensitivity, functional inter-dependence, and involvement in angiogenesis, we hypothesized roles for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2/9), RGD-dependent integrins, and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in this process. BAECs were exposed to equibiaxial cyclic strain (5% strain, 1Hz for 24h) before their migration and tube formation was assessed by transwell migration and collagen gel tube formation assays, respectively. In response to strain, both migration and tube formation were increased by 1.83+/-0.1- and 1.84+/-0.1-fold, respectively. Pertussis toxin, a Gi-protein inhibitor, decreased strain-induced migration by 45.7+/-32% and tube formation by 69.8+/-13%, whilst protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibition with genistein had no effect. siRNA-directed attenuation of endothelial MMP-9 (but not MMP-2) expression/activity decreased strain-induced migration and tube formation by 98.6+/-41% and 40.7+/-31%, respectively. Finally, integrin blockade with cRGD peptide and siRNA-directed attenuation of uPA expression reduced strain-induced tube formation by 85.7+/-15% and 84.7+/-31%, respectively, whilst having no effect on migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Cyclic strain promotes BAEC migration and tube formation in a Gi-protein-dependent PTK-independent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time a putative role for MMP-9 in both strain-induced events, whilst RGD-dependent integrins and uPA appear only to be involved in strain-induced tube formation.

DNA chip analysis of comprehensive food function: inhibition of angiogenesis and telomerase activity with unsaturated vitamin E, tocotrienol

Inhibition of angiogenesis and telomerase activity with vitamin E compounds, especially for tocotrienol (T3), has been investigated. Nutrigenomic tools have been used for elucidating the bioactive mechanisms of T3. In the cell culture experiments, T3 reduced the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Among T3 isomers, delta-T3 appeared the highest activity. The T3 inhibited the new blood vessels formation on the growing chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM assay for an in vivo model of angiogenesis). In contrast, tocopherol did not. The findings suggested that the T3 has potential use for reducing angiogenic disorder. DNA chip analysis revealed that T3 specifically down-regulates the expression of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) in endothelial cells. It is well-known that VEGF regulates angiogenesis by binding to VEGFR. Therefore, T3 could block the intracellular signaling of VEGF via down-regulation of VEGFR, which resulted in the inhibition of angiogenesis. On the other hand, DNA chip analysis also revealed that T3 down-regulates the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) in the cultured HUVEC. Since PKC is involved with the control of telomerase activity, T3 has potential to act as anti-telomerase inhibitor via PKC inhibition. In this manner, DNA chip technology provides efficient access to genetic information regarding food function and its mechanism.