Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases in pig dental pulp

SSAO/VAP-1 in Cerebrovascular Disorders: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease

The semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), also known as vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) or primary amine oxidase (PrAO), is a deaminating enzyme highly expressed in vessels that generates harmful products as a result of its enzymatic activity. As a multifunctional enzyme, it is also involved in inflammation through its ability to bind and promote the transmigration of circulating leukocytes into inflamed tissues. Inflammation is present in different systemic and cerebral diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These pathologies show important affectations on cerebral vessels, together with increased SSAO levels. This review summarizes the main roles of SSAO/VAP-1 in human physiology and pathophysiology and discusses the mechanisms by which it can affect the onset and progression of both stroke and AD. As there is an evident interrelationship between stroke and AD, basically through the vascular system dysfunction, the possibility that SSAO/VAP-1 could be involved in the transition between these two pathologies is suggested. Hence, its inhibition is proposed to be an interesting therapeutical approach to the brain damage induced in these both cerebral pathologies.

SSAO substrates exhibiting insulin-like effects in adipocytes as a promising treatment option for metabolic disorders

BACKGROUND

Benzylamine exerts insulin-like effects in adipocytes (e.g., glucose uptake and antilipolysis) and improves glucose handling in rodents.

RESULTS

In murine adipocytes, benzylamine mimics another insulin action: it enhances apelin expression in a manner that is blocked by the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase/vascular adhesion protein-1 (SSAO/VAP-1) inhibitor semicarbazide. It is shown that in human adipocytes, benzylamine activates glucose transport, but its effects are not additive to maximal insulin stimulation. Benzylamine effects are hydrogen peroxide dependent. They can be reproduced by novel substrates, but not by benzaldehyde.

CONCLUSION

Owing to the parallelism between the in vitro insulin mimicry and the in vivo improvement of glucose handling elicited by benzylamine in rodents, the SSAO/VAP-1 substrates, with stronger effects on human adipocytes than benzylamine, show promising applications for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Substrate selectivity of monoamine oxidase A, monoamine oxidase B, diamine oxidase, and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase in COS-1 expression systems

The substrate selectivity of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), diamine oxidase (DAO), and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) was investigated in the absence of chemical inhibitors using the COS-1 cells expressed with respective amine oxidase. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), 1-methylhistamine, and histamine were preferentially oxidized by MAO-A, SSAO, and DAO, respectively, at a low substrate concentration. In contrast, benzylamine, tyramine, and beta-phenylethylamine served as substrates for all of MAO-A, MAO-B, and SSAO. Each amine oxidase showed broad substrate selectivity at a high substrate concentration. The cross-inhibition was remarkable in MAO-A and MAO-B, especially in MAO-A, but not in SSAO and DAO. A study of the substrate selectivity of amine oxidases should include consideration of the effects of substrate concentration and specific chemical inhibitors.

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases: enzymes with quite a lot to do

The semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases (SSAO) (EC 1.4.3.6) were believed to be detoxifying enzymes, primarily involved in the oxidative deamination of endogenous amines, such as methylamine and aminoacetone, together with some xenobiotic amines. However, it appears that the reaction products may have important signalling functions in the regulation of cell development and glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, enzyme, from some sources, behaves as a cellular adhesion protein under inflammatory and it may also be involved in lipid transport. This review considers what is known about the activities and potential functions of this hardworking protein.