1
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Gurung S, Timmermand OV, Perocheau D, Gil-Martinez AL, Minnion M, Touramanidou L, Fang S, Messina M, Khalil Y, Spiewak J, Barber AR, Edwards RS, Pinto PL, Finn PF, Cavedon A, Siddiqui S, Rice L, Martini PGV, Ridout D, Heywood W, Hargreaves I, Heales S, Mills PB, Waddington SN, Gissen P, Eaton S, Ryten M, Feelisch M, Frassetto A, Witney TH, Baruteau J. mRNA therapy corrects defective glutathione metabolism and restores ureagenesis in preclinical argininosuccinic aciduria. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadh1334. [PMID: 38198573 PMCID: PMC7615535 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) enables the clearance of neurotoxic ammonia and the biosynthesis of arginine. Patients with ASL deficiency present with argininosuccinic aciduria, an inherited metabolic disease with hyperammonemia and a systemic phenotype coinciding with neurocognitive impairment and chronic liver disease. Here, we describe the dysregulation of glutathione biosynthesis and upstream cysteine utilization in ASL-deficient patients and mice using targeted metabolomics and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using (S)-4-(3-18F-fluoropropyl)-l-glutamate ([18F]FSPG). Up-regulation of cysteine metabolism contrasted with glutathione depletion and down-regulated antioxidant pathways. To assess hepatic glutathione dysregulation and liver disease, we present [18F]FSPG PET as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to monitor therapeutic response in argininosuccinic aciduria. Human hASL mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles improved glutathione metabolism and chronic liver disease. In addition, hASL mRNA therapy corrected and rescued the neonatal and adult Asl-deficient mouse phenotypes, respectively, enhancing ureagenesis. These findings provide mechanistic insights in liver glutathione metabolism and support clinical translation of mRNA therapy for argininosuccinic aciduria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Gurung
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | | | - Dany Perocheau
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ana Luisa Gil-Martinez
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Magdalena Minnion
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Loukia Touramanidou
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Sherry Fang
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Martina Messina
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Youssef Khalil
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Justyna Spiewak
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Abigail R Barber
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Richard S Edwards
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Patricia Lipari Pinto
- Santa Maria's Hospital, Lisbon North University Hospital Center, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Rice
- Moderna Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Deborah Ridout
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Wendy Heywood
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ian Hargreaves
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moore University, Liverpool L3 5UG, UK
| | - Simon Heales
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Philippa B Mills
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Simon N Waddington
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witswatersrand, Braamfontein, 2000 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Paul Gissen
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Mina Ryten
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Martin Feelisch
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | | | - Timothy H Witney
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Julien Baruteau
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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2
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Jiang C, Dong Q, Xin X, Degen AA, Ding L. Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172228. [PMID: 36077948 PMCID: PMC9455063 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chinese traditional herbs are used widely as feed supplements to improve the immune response and antioxidant capacity of livestock. Twenty early-weaned 4-month-old yak calves (72.3 ± 3.65 kg) were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5 per group); three groups were provided with supplementary 80 mL/kg DMI of the root water extracts of either Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula or Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and one group (control) was not provided with a supplement. Compared to control calves, calves consuming the three herbal extracts increased serum concentrations of albumin (ALB) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but decreased serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Calves consuming A. sinensis decreased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), and increased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total proteins (TP). Serum FFA concentrations increased (p = 0.004) linearly with time in the control group, but not in the groups consuming herbs. Serum metabolomic data demonstrated that A. sinensis and C. pilosula regulate mainly amino acid metabolism, while G. uralensis regulates mainly carbon and amino acid metabolism. It was concluded that the three herbal root extracts, as dietary supplements, improved energy and nitrogen metabolism, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of yak calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuixia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Quanmin Dong
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xiaoping Xin
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Luming Ding
- Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence:
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3
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Zhou Y, Eid T, Hassel B, Danbolt NC. Novel aspects of glutamine synthetase in ammonia homeostasis. Neurochem Int 2020; 140:104809. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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4
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Alves-Bezerra M, Furey N, Johnson CG, Bissig KD. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to model human liver disease. JHEP Rep 2019; 1:392-402. [PMID: 32039390 PMCID: PMC7005665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has revolutionised biomedical research. The ease of design has allowed many groups to apply this technology for disease modelling in animals. While the mouse remains the most commonly used organism for embryonic editing, CRISPR is now increasingly performed with high efficiency in other species. The liver is also amenable to somatic genome editing, and some delivery methods already allow for efficient editing in the whole liver. In this review, we describe CRISPR-edited animals developed for modelling a broad range of human liver disorders, such as acquired and inherited hepatic metabolic diseases and liver cancers. CRISPR has greatly expanded the repertoire of animal models available for the study of human liver disease, advancing our understanding of their pathophysiology and providing new opportunities to develop novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Alves-Bezerra
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center (STAR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nika Furey
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center (STAR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Collin G Johnson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center (STAR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center (STAR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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5
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Lange SM, McKell MC, Schmidt SM, Zhao J, Crowther RR, Green LC, Bricker RL, Arnett E, Köhler SE, Schlesinger LS, Setchell KDR, Qualls JE. l-Arginine Synthesis from l-Citrulline in Myeloid Cells Drives Host Defense against Mycobacteria In Vivo. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:1747-1754. [PMID: 30710047 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Immunonutrition as a therapeutic approach is rapidly gaining interest in the fight against infection. Targeting l-arginine metabolism is intriguing, considering this amino acid is the substrate for antimicrobial NO production by macrophages. The importance of l-arginine during infection is supported by the finding that inhibiting its synthesis from its precursor l-citrulline blunts host defense. During the first few weeks following pulmonary mycobacterial infection, we found a drastic increase in l-citrulline in the lung, even though serum concentrations were unaltered. This correlated with increased gene expression of the l-citrulline-generating (i.e., iNOS) and l-citrulline-using (i.e., Ass1) enzymes in key myeloid populations. Eliminating l-arginine synthesis from l-citrulline in myeloid cells via conditional deletion of either Ass1 or Asl resulted in increased Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv burden in the lungs compared with controls. Our data illustrate the necessity of l-citrulline metabolism for myeloid defense against mycobacterial infection and highlight the potential for host-directed therapy against mycobacterial disease targeting this nutrient and/or its metabolic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Lange
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Immunology Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Melanie C McKell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Immunology Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Stephanie M Schmidt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Junfang Zhao
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Rebecca R Crowther
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Immunology Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Lisa C Green
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Molecular, Cellular, and Biochemical Pharmacology Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Rebecca L Bricker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Eusondia Arnett
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78245; and
| | - S Eleonore Köhler
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Maastricht University, 6229 HA Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Kenneth D R Setchell
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Joseph E Qualls
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229; .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
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6
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Pankowicz FP, Barzi M, Kim KH, Legras X, Martins CS, Wooton-Kee CR, Lagor WR, Marini JC, Elsea SH, Bissig-Choisat B, Moore DD, Bissig KD. Rapid Disruption of Genes Specifically in Livers of Mice Using Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 Editing. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:1967-1970.e6. [PMID: 30170115 PMCID: PMC6420307 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Despite advances in gene editing technologies, generation of tissue-specific knockout mice is time-consuming. We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to disrupt genes in livers of adult mice in just a few months, which we refer to as somatic liver knockouts. METHODS In this system, Fah-/- mice are given hydrodynamic tail vein injections of plasmids carrying CRISPR/Cas9 designed to excise exons in Hpd; the Hpd-edited hepatocytes have a survival advantage in these mice. Plasmids that target Hpd and a separate gene of interest can therefore be used to rapidly generate mice with liver-specific deletion of nearly any gene product. RESULTS We used this system to create mice with liver-specific knockout of argininosuccinate lyase, which develop hyperammonemia, observed in humans with mutations in this gene. We also created mice with liver-specific knockout of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 11, which encodes the bile salt export pump. We found that these mice have a biochemical phenotype similar to that of Abcb11-/- mice. We then used this system to knock out expression of 5 different enzymes involved in drug metabolism within the same mouse. CONCLUSIONS This approach might be used to develop new models of liver diseases and study liver functions of genes that are required during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis P Pankowicz
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mercedes Barzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kang Ho Kim
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xavier Legras
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Celeste Santos Martins
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Juan C Marini
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sarah H Elsea
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Beatrice Bissig-Choisat
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David D Moore
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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7
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Ashley SN, Nordin JML, Buza EL, Greig JA, Wilson JM. Adeno-associated viral gene therapy corrects a mouse model of argininosuccinic aciduria. Mol Genet Metab 2018; 125:241-250. [PMID: 30253962 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is the second most common genetic disorder affecting the urea cycle. The disease is caused by deleterious mutations in the gene encoding argininosuccinate lyase (ASL); total loss of ASL activity results in severe neonatal onset of the disease, which is characterized by hyperammonemia within a few days of birth that can rapidly progress to coma and death. The long-term complications of ASA, such as hypertension and neurocognitive deficits, appear to be resistant to the current treatment options of dietary restriction, arginine supplementation, and nitrogen scavenging drugs. Treatment-resistant disease is currently being managed by orthotopic liver transplant, which shows variable improvement and requires lifetime immunosuppression. Here, we developed a gene therapy strategy for ASA aimed at alleviating the symptoms associated with urea cycle disruption by providing stable expression of ASL protein in the liver. We designed a codon-optimized human ASL gene packaged within adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) as a vector for targeted delivery to the liver. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this approach, we utilized a murine hypomorphic model of ASA. Neonatal administration of AAV8 via the temporal facial vein extended survival in ASA hypomorphic mice, although not to wild-type levels. Intravenous injection into adolescent hypomorphic mice led to increased survival and body weight and correction of metabolites associated with the disease. Our results demonstrate that AAV8 gene therapy is a viable approach for the treatment of ASA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott N Ashley
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jayme M L Nordin
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Buza
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jenny A Greig
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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8
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Palanza KM, Nesta AV, Tumu R, Walton CM, Davis MA, King TR. Auxotrophy-Based Detection of Hyperornithinemia in Mouse Blood and Urine. JOURNAL OF INBORN ERRORS OF METABOLISM AND SCREENING 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/2326409816649600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M. Palanza
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Alex V. Nesta
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Renukanandan Tumu
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Cherie M. Walton
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Michael A. Davis
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Thomas R. King
- Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA
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9
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Senkevitch E, Cabrera-Luque J, Morizono H, Caldovic L, Tuchman M. A novel biochemically salvageable animal model of hyperammonemia devoid of N-acetylglutamate synthase. Mol Genet Metab 2012; 106:160-8. [PMID: 22503289 PMCID: PMC3356441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Revised: 03/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
All knockout mouse models of urea cycle disorders die in the neonatal period or shortly thereafter. Since N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency in humans can be effectively treated with N-carbamyl-l-glutamate (NCG), we sought to develop a mouse model of this disorder that could be rescued by biochemical intervention, reared to adulthood, reproduce, and become a novel animal model for hyperammonemia. Founder NAGS knockout heterozygous mice were obtained from the trans-NIH Knock-Out Mouse Project. Genotyping of the mice was performed by PCR and confirmed by Western blotting of liver and intestine. NCG and L-citrulline (Cit) were used to rescue the NAGS knockout homozygous (Nags(-/-)) pups and the rescued animals were characterized. We observed an 85% survival rate of Nags(-/-) mice when they were given intraperitoneal injections with NCG and Cit during the newborn period until weaning and supplemented subsequently with both compounds in their drinking water. This regimen has allowed for normal development, apparent health, and reproduction. Interruption of this rescue intervention resulted in the development of severe hyperammonemia and death within 48 h. In addition to hyperammonemia, interruption of rescue supplementation was associated with elevated plasma glutamine, glutamate, and lysine, and reduced citrulline, arginine, ornithine and proline levels. We conclude that NAGS deprived mouse model has been developed which can be rescued by NCG and Cit and reared to reproduction and beyond. This biochemically salvageable mouse model recapitulates the clinical phenotype of proximal urea cycle disorders and can be used as a reliable model of induced hyperammonemia by manipulating the administration of the rescue compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilee Senkevitch
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
- Biological Sciences Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Juan Cabrera-Luque
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
| | - Hiroki Morizono
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
| | - Ljubica Caldovic
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
| | - Mendel Tuchman
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
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10
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Requirement of argininosuccinate lyase for systemic nitric oxide production. Nat Med 2011; 17:1619-26. [PMID: 22081021 DOI: 10.1038/nm.2544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial in diverse physiological and pathological processes. We show that a hypomorphic mouse model of argininosuccinate lyase (encoded by Asl) deficiency has a distinct phenotype of multiorgan dysfunction and NO deficiency. Loss of Asl in both humans and mice leads to reduced NO synthesis, owing to both decreased endogenous arginine synthesis and an impaired ability to use extracellular arginine for NO production. Administration of nitrite, which can be converted into NO in vivo, rescued the manifestations of NO deficiency in hypomorphic Asl mice, and a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-independent NO donor restored NO-dependent vascular reactivity in humans with ASL deficiency. Mechanistic studies showed that ASL has a structural function in addition to its catalytic activity, by which it contributes to the formation of a multiprotein complex required for NO production. Our data demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for ASL in NOS function and NO homeostasis. Hence, ASL may serve as a target for manipulating NO production in experimental models, as well as for the treatment of NO-related diseases.
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11
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Erez A, Nagamani SCS, Lee B. Argininosuccinate lyase deficiency-argininosuccinic aciduria and beyond. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2011; 157C:45-53. [PMID: 21312326 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The urea cycle consists of six consecutive enzymatic reactions that convert waste nitrogen into urea. Deficiencies of any of these enzymes of the cycle result in urea cycle disorders (UCD), a group of inborn errors of hepatic metabolism that often result in life threatening hyperammonemia. Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is a cytosolic enzyme which catalyzes the fourth reaction in the cycle and the first degradative step, that is, the breakdown of argininosuccinic acid to arginine and fumarate. Deficiency of ASL results in an accumulation of argininosuccinic acid in tissues, and excretion of argininosuccinic acid in urine leading to the condition argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA). ASA is an autosomal recessive disorder and is the second most common UCD. In addition to the accumulation of argininosuccinic acid, ASL deficiency results in decreased synthesis of arginine, a feature common to all UCDs except argininemia. Arginine is not only the precursor for the synthesis of urea and ornithine as part of the urea cycle but it is also the substrate for the synthesis of nitric oxide, polyamines, proline, glutamate, creatine, and agmatine. Hence, while ASL is the only enzyme in the body able to generate arginine, at least four enzymes use arginine as substrate: arginine decarboxylase, arginase, nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and arginine/glycine aminotransferase. In the liver, the main function of ASL is ureagenesis, and hence, there is no net synthesis of arginine. In contrast, in most other tissues, its role is to generate arginine that is designated for the specific cell's needs. While patients with ASA share the acute clinical phenotype of hyperammonemia, encephalopathy, and respiratory alkalosis common to other UCD, they also present with unique chronic complications most probably caused by a combination of tissue specific deficiency of arginine and/or elevation of argininosuccinic acid. This review article summarizes the clinical characterization, biochemical, enzymatic, and molecular features of this disorder. Current treatment, prenatal diagnosis, diagnosis through the newborn screening as well as hypothesis driven future treatment modalities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Erez
- Department of Molecular and Human, Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Braissant O. Current concepts in the pathogenesis of urea cycle disorders. Mol Genet Metab 2010; 100 Suppl 1:S3-S12. [PMID: 20227314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2010.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2009] [Accepted: 02/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The common feature of urea cycle diseases (UCD) is a defect in ammonium elimination in liver, leading to hyperammonemia. This excess of circulating ammonium eventually reaches the central nervous system, where the main toxic effects of ammonium occur. These are reversible or irreversible, depending on the age of onset as well as the duration and the level of ammonium exposure. The brain is much more susceptible to the deleterious effects of ammonium during development than in adulthood, and surviving UCD patients may develop cortical and basal ganglia hypodensities, cortical atrophy, white matter atrophy or hypomyelination and ventricular dilatation. While for a long time, the mechanisms leading to these irreversible effects of ammonium exposure on the brain remained poorly understood, these last few years have brought new data showing in particular that ammonium exposure alters several amino acid pathways and neurotransmitter systems, cerebral energy, nitric oxide synthesis, axonal and dendritic growth, signal transduction pathways, as well as K(+) and water channels. All these effects of ammonium on CNS may eventually lead to energy deficit, oxidative stress and cell death. Recent work also proposed neuroprotective strategies, such as the use of NMDA receptor antagonists, nitric oxide inhibitors, creatine and acetyl-l-carnitine, to counteract the toxic effects of ammonium. Better understanding the pathophysiology of ammonium toxicity to the brain under UCD will allow the development of new strategies for neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Braissant
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, CI 02/33, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Lichter-Konecki U. Profiling of astrocyte properties in the hyperammonaemic brain: shedding new light on the pathophysiology of the brain damage in hyperammonaemia. J Inherit Metab Dis 2008; 31:492-502. [PMID: 18683079 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-008-0834-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2007] [Revised: 05/30/2008] [Accepted: 06/03/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute hyperammonaemia (HA) causes cerebral oedema and severe brain damage in patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) or acute liver failure (ALF). Chronic HA is associated with developmental delay and intellectual disability in patients with UCDs and with neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic liver failure. Treatment often cannot prevent severe brain injury and neurological sequelae. The causes of the brain oedema in hyperammonaemic encephalopathy (HAE) have been subject of intense controversy among physicians and scientists working in this field. Currently favoured hypotheses are astrocyte swelling due to increased intracellular glutamine content and neuronal cell death due to excitotoxicity caused by elevated extracellular glutamate levels. While many researchers focus on these mechanisms of cytotoxicity, others emphasize vascular causes of brain oedema. New data gleaned from expression profiling of astrocytes acutely isolated from hyperammonaemic mouse brains point to disturbed water and potassium homeostasis as regulated by astrocytes at the brain microvasculature and in the perisynaptic space as a potential mechanism of brain oedema development in hyperammonaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Lichter-Konecki
- Center for Neuroscience Research, and Division of Genetics & Metabolism, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010-2970, USA.
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Living related liver transplant in a patient with argininosuccinic aciduria and cirrhosis: metabolic follow-up. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008; 46:453-6. [PMID: 18367960 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0b013e3180ca8720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Deignan JL, Cederbaum SD, Grody WW. Contrasting features of urea cycle disorders in human patients and knockout mouse models. Mol Genet Metab 2008; 93:7-14. [PMID: 17933574 PMCID: PMC2692509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2007.08.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2007] [Revised: 08/19/2007] [Accepted: 08/19/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The urea cycle exists for the removal of excess nitrogen from the body. Six separate enzymes comprise the urea cycle, and a deficiency in any one of them causes a urea cycle disorder (UCD) in humans. Arginase is the only urea cycle enzyme with an alternate isoform, though no known human disorder currently exists due to a deficiency in the second isoform. While all of the UCDs usually present with hyperammonemia in the first few days to months of life, most disorders are distinguished by a characteristic profile of plasma amino acid alterations that can be utilized for diagnosis. While enzyme assay is possible, an analysis of the underlying mutation is preferable for an accurate diagnosis. Mouse models for each of the urea cycle disorders exist (with the exception of NAGS deficiency), and for almost all of them, their clinical and biochemical phenotypes rather closely resemble the phenotypes seen in human patients. Consequently, all of the current mouse models are highly useful for future research into novel pharmacological and dietary treatments and gene therapy protocols for the management of urea cycle disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L. Deignan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- The Mental Retardation Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Stephen D. Cederbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- The Mental Retardation Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Wayne W. Grody
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- The Mental Retardation Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
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Newnham T, Hardikar W, Allen K, Wellard RM, Hamilton C, Angus P, Jones R, Boneh A. Liver transplantation for argininosuccinic aciduria: clinical, biochemical, and metabolic outcome. Liver Transpl 2008; 14:41-5. [PMID: 18161830 DOI: 10.1002/lt.21297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We report successful liver transplantation in a young adult with argininosuccinic aciduria but without cirrhosis. Plasma amino acid profile normalized and brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated improved metabolism after transplantation. The general well-being of the patient and his quality of life improved. We suggest that orthotopic liver transplantation should be considered for patients with argininosuccinic aciduria even in the absence of cirrhosis, with the aim of correcting (at least in part) central nervous system metabolism, thereby preventing further neurological deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Newnham
- Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia
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Cagnon L, Braissant O. Hyperammonemia-induced toxicity for the developing central nervous system. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 56:183-97. [PMID: 17881060 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2007] [Revised: 06/15/2007] [Accepted: 06/15/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In pediatric patients, hyperammonemia can be caused by various acquired or inherited disorders such as urea cycle deficiencies or organic acidemias. The brain is much more susceptible to the deleterious effects of ammonium during development than in adulthood. Hyperammonemia can provoke irreversible damages to the developing central nervous system that lead to cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement and demyelination, responsible for cognitive impairment, seizures and cerebral palsy. Until recently, the mechanisms leading to these irreversible cerebral damages were poorly understood. Using experimental models allowing the analysis of the neurotoxic effects of ammonium on the developing brain, these last years have seen the emergence of new clues showing that ammonium exposure alters several amino acid pathways and neurotransmitter systems, as well as cerebral energy metabolism, nitric oxide synthesis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial permeability transition and signal transduction pathways. Those alterations may explain neuronal loss and impairment of axonal and dendritic growth observed in the different models of congenital hyperammonemia. Some neuroprotective strategies such as the potential use of NMDA receptor antagonists, nitric oxide inhibitors, creatine and acetyl-l-carnitine have been suggested to counteract these toxic effects. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms involved in the chain of events leading to neuronal dysfunction under hyperammonemia may be useful to develop new potential strategies for neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurène Cagnon
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, CI 02/33, Avenue Pierre-Decker 2, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Lanpher B, Brunetti-Pierri N, Lee B. Inborn errors of metabolism: the flux from Mendelian to complex diseases. Nat Rev Genet 2006; 7:449-60. [PMID: 16708072 DOI: 10.1038/nrg1880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Inborn errors of metabolism are characterized by dysregulation of the metabolic networks that underlie development and homeostasis, and constitute an important and expanding group of genetic disorders in humans. Diagnostic methods that are based on molecular genetic tools have a limited ability to correlate phenotypes with subtle changes in metabolic fluxes. We argue that the direct and dynamic measurement of metabolite flux will facilitate the integration of environmental, genetic and biochemical factors with phenotypic information. Ultimately, this integration will lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that are focused on the manipulation of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Lanpher
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Cristoni S, Cantù M, Bernardi LR, Gerthoux P, Gonella E, Brambilla M, Cavalca V, Zingaro L, Guidugli F. Surface-activated chemical ionization in the analysis of arginine in plasma samples. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2005; 19:1231-1236. [PMID: 15838926 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.1921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Alterations of arginine plasma levels are involved in several disorders of amino acid metabolism such as hurtnup, argininosuccinic aciduria, histidinemia, citrullinuria, and cystinuria. In this work a new liquid ionization source, surface-activated chemical ionization (SACI), has been used to analyze arginine in human and rat plasma samples. Arginine was extracted and diluted ten times through protein precipitation. The diluted arginine samples were then analyzed using an ion-exchange chromatographic column coupled with the SACI source and an ion trap analyzer using MS(3) monitoring in order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the analysis. The multiple-point standard additions method was used to quantify the arginine. This method was employed to eliminate the matrix effect that affects all liquid ionization sources (APCI, ESI, SACI, etc.), and also does not require use of an internal standard. High-quality results in terms of sensitivity, limit of detection, lower limit of quantitation, linearity and reproducibility, are demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Cristoni
- University of Milan, Centre for Bio-molecular Interdisciplinary Studies and Industrial Applications CISI, Italy.
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Scaglia F, Brunetti-Pierri N, Kleppe S, Marini J, Carter S, Garlick P, Jahoor F, O'Brien W, Lee B. Clinical consequences of urea cycle enzyme deficiencies and potential links to arginine and nitric oxide metabolism. J Nutr 2004; 134:2775S-2782S; discussion 2796S-2797S. [PMID: 15465784 DOI: 10.1093/jn/134.10.2775s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCD) are human conditions caused by the dysregulation of nitrogen transfer from ammonia nitrogen into urea. The biochemistry and the genetics of these disorders were well elucidated. Earlier diagnosis and improved treatments led to an emerging, longer-lived cohort of patients. The natural history of some of these disorders began to point to pathophysiological processes that may be unrelated to the primary cause of acute morbidity and mortality, i.e., hyperammonemia. Carbamyl phosphate synthetase I single nucleotide polymorphisms may be associated with altered vascular resistance that becomes clinically relevant when specific environmental stressors are present. Patients with argininosuccinic aciduria due to a deficiency of argininosuccinic acid lyase are uniquely prone to chronic hepatitis, potentially leading to cirrhosis. Moreover, our recent observations suggest that there may be an increased prevalence of essential hypertension. In contrast, hyperargininemia found in patients with arginase 1 deficiency is associated with pyramidal tract findings and spasticity, without significant hyperammonemia. An intriguing potential pathophysiological link is the dysregulation of intracellular arginine availability and its potential effect on nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. By combining detailed natural history studies with the development of tissue-specific null mouse models for urea cycle enzymes and measurement of nitrogen flux through the cycle to urea and NO in UCD patients, we may begin to dissect the contribution of different sources of arginine to NO production and the consequences on both rare genetic and common multifactorial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Scaglia
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Children's Nutritional Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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