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Hu XL, Xiao W, Lei Y, Green A, Lee X, Maradana MR, Gao Y, Xie X, Wang R, Chennell G, Basson MA, Kille P, Maret W, Bewick GA, Zhou Y, Hogstrand C. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor utilises cellular zinc signals to maintain the gut epithelial barrier. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5431. [PMID: 37669965 PMCID: PMC10480478 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc and plant-derived ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are dietary components affecting intestinal epithelial barrier function. Here, we explore whether zinc and the AHR pathway are linked. We show that dietary supplementation with an AHR pre-ligand offers protection against inflammatory bowel disease in a mouse model while protection fails in mice lacking AHR in the intestinal epithelium. AHR agonist treatment is also ineffective in mice fed zinc depleted diet. In human ileum organoids and Caco-2 cells, AHR activation increases total cellular zinc and cytosolic free Zn2+ concentrations through transcription of genes for zinc importers. Tight junction proteins are upregulated through zinc inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer and calpain activity. Our data show that AHR activation by plant-derived dietary ligands improves gut barrier function at least partly via zinc-dependent cellular pathways, suggesting that combined dietary supplementation with AHR ligands and zinc might be effective in preventing inflammatory gut disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuchuan Lucas Hu
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Wenfeng Xiao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxian Lei
- Department of Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Green
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Xinyi Lee
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Yajing Gao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueru Xie
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - George Chennell
- Clinical Neuroscience Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Pete Kille
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Wolfgang Maret
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin A Bewick
- Department of Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yufeng Zhou
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Calpains as mechanistic drivers and therapeutic targets for ocular disease. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:644-661. [PMID: 35641420 PMCID: PMC9345745 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ophthalmic neurodegenerative diseases encompass a wide array of molecular pathologies unified by calpain dysregulation. Calpains are calcium-dependent proteases that perpetuate cellular death and inflammation when hyperactivated. Calpain inhibition trials in other organs have faced pharmacological challenges, but the eye offers many advantages for the development and testing of targeted molecular therapeutics, including small molecules, peptides, engineered proteins, drug implants, and gene-based therapies. This review highlights structural mechanisms underlying calpain activation, distinct cellular expression patterns, and in vivo models that link calpain hyperactivity to human retinal and developmental disease. Optimizing therapeutic approaches for calpain-mediated eye diseases can help accelerate clinically feasible strategies for treating calpain dysregulation in other diseased tissues.
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Hernández-Camacho JD, Vicente-García C, Parsons DS, Navas-Enamorado I. Zinc at the crossroads of exercise and proteostasis. Redox Biol 2020; 35:101529. [PMID: 32273258 PMCID: PMC7284914 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc is an essential element for all forms of life, and one in every ten human proteins is a zinc protein. Zinc has catalytic, structural and signalling functions and its correct homeostasis affects many cellular processes. Zinc deficiency leads to detrimental consequences, especially in tissues with high demand such as skeletal muscle. Zinc cellular homeostasis is tightly regulated by different transport and buffer protein systems. Specifically, in skeletal muscle, zinc has been found to affect myogenesis and muscle regeneration due to its effects on muscle cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. In relation to skeletal muscle, exercise has been shown to modulate zinc serum and urinary levels and could directly affect cellular zinc transport. The oxidative stress induced by exercise may provide the basis for the mild zinc deficiency observed in athletes and could have severe consequences on health and sport performance. Proteostasis is induced during exercise and zinc plays an essential role in several of the associated pathways. Zinc deficiency could be a crucial issue in sport performance for athletes. Exercise could modulate zinc serum and cellular homeostasis. Zinc is part of proteostatic systems critical during exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Diego Hernández-Camacho
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CSIC-UPO-JA, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, 41013, Spain; CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28000, Spain
| | - Cristina Vicente-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CSIC-UPO-JA, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
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Nakajima E, Hammond KB, Hirata M, Shearer TR, Azuma M. Contribution of Calpain and Caspases to Cell Death in Cultured Monkey RPE Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:5412-5420. [PMID: 29053764 PMCID: PMC6110128 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose AMD is the leading cause of human vision loss after 65 years of age. Several mechanisms have been proposed: (1) age-related failure of the choroidal vasculature leads to loss of RPE; (2) RPE dysfunctions due to accumulation of phagocytized, but unreleased A2E (N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine); (3) zinc deficiency activation of calpain and caspase proteases, leading to cell death. The purpose of the present study is to compare activation of calpain and caspase in monkey RPE cells cultured under hypoxia or with A2E. Methods Monkey primary RPE cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions in a Gaspak pouch or cultured with synthetic A2E. Immunoblotting was used to detect activation of calpain and caspase. Calpain inhibitor, SNJ-1945, and pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, were used to confirm activation of the proteases. Results (1) Hypoxia and A2E each decreased viability of RPE cells in a time-dependent manner. (2) Incubation under hypoxia alone induced activation of calpain, but not caspases. SNJ-1945 inhibited calpain activation, but z-VAD-fmk did not. (3) Incubation with A2E alone induced activation of calpain, caspase-9, and caspase-3. SNJ-1945 inhibited calpain activation. z-VAD-fmk inhibited caspase activation, suggesting no interaction between calpain and caspases. Conclusions Hypoxia activated the calpain pathway, while A2E activated both calpain and caspase pathways in monkey RPE cells. Such knowledge may be utilized in the treatment of AMD if inhibitor drugs against calpain and/or caspase are used to prevent RPE dysfunction caused by hypoxia or A2E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Nakajima
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Katherine B Hammond
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Masayuki Hirata
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Thomas R Shearer
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Mitsuyoshi Azuma
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
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Ugarte M, Osborne NN. Recent advances in the understanding of the role of zinc in ocular tissues. Metallomics 2014; 6:189-200. [DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00291h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Nakajima E, Hammond KB, Shearer TR, Azuma M. Activation of the mitochondrial caspase pathway and subsequent calpain activation in monkey RPE cells cultured under zinc depletion. Eye (Lond) 2014; 28:85-92. [PMID: 24202052 PMCID: PMC3890765 DOI: 10.1038/eye.2013.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Decreased zinc levels in the macula are reported in patients with age-related macular degeneration, and the zinc chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2- pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine) (TPEN) causes death of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate signal transduction pathways during cell death initiated by TPEN, using monkey RPE cells. METHODS RPE cells were cultured with TPEN. Activation of calpains and caspases, and proteolysis of their substrates were detected by immunoblotting. Incubation of calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945 or caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk was used to confirm activation of specific proteases. RESULTS TPEN caused a time-dependent decrease in viable RPE cells. Cell death was accompanied by activation of calpain-1, caspase-9, and caspase-3. SNJ-1945 inhibited calpain activation and slightly inhibited caspase-9 activation. z-VAD-fmk inhibited caspases and calpain-1 activation. TPEN did not activate caspase-12. CONCLUSIONS Relative zinc deficiency in RPE cells causes activation of cytosolic calpain and mitochondrial caspase pathways without ER stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Nakajima
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - K B Hammond
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - T R Shearer
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - M Azuma
- Senju Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Ugarte M, Osborne NN, Brown LA, Bishop PN. Iron, zinc, and copper in retinal physiology and disease. Surv Ophthalmol 2013; 58:585-609. [DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2012] [Revised: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Azuma M, Chung K, Fujii A, Shearer TR. Patient selection criteria for pilot studies on amelioration of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2011; 26:367-71. [PMID: 20653480 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2010.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSES Non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by accumulation of macular drusen, changes in pigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium, and geographic atrophy. The purposes of this study were to (1) measure the rate of progression of non-neovascular AMD and (2) from the rate data, to propose patient selection criteria for testing drugs to prevent progression of non-neovascular AMD. METHODS Medical charts were searched for all AMD billing codes, consecutively reviewed, and 51 patients with a median age of 76 years were mined for severity of AMD using a standardized worsening scale from 0 to 6, visual acuity (VA, Snellen), medications or procedures to treat eye diseases, date of eye examinations, age, and sex. Individual eyes, excluding those with cataract, were grouped and compared. RESULTS Using all grades, VA (logMAR) was positively correlated with AMD scores (P < 0.0001, n = 66). The median length of time to progress from AMD grade 3 or 4 to the next grade was 1.0 (n = 14) and 1.7 years (n = 7), respectively. Statistical analyses predicted that drug-treated and nontreated groups, each containing 409 grade 3 and 4 AMD eyes, could detect 50% drug inhibition (P = 0.05) in a 2-year trial. CONCLUSIONS VA measurements and structural AMD grades would be useful markers in clinical trials on non-neovascular AMD. Recruiting only grade 3 and 4 patients may be ideal for time- and cost-efficient pilot drug efficacy studies on moderately progressing non-neovascular AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuyoshi Azuma
- Laboratory of Ocular Sciences, Senju Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd ., Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Imai S, Shimazawa M, Nakanishi T, Tsuruma K, Hara H. Calpain inhibitor protects cells against light-induced retinal degeneration. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 335:645-52. [PMID: 20823194 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.171298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Calpains are activated by excessive light exposure and related to retinal degeneration. We investigated the protective effects of ((1S)-1-((((1S)-1-benzyl-3-cyclopropylamino-2,3-di-oxopropyl)amino)carbonyl)-3-methylbutyl)carbamic acid 5-methoxy-3-oxapentyl ester (SNJ-1945), a calpain inhibitor, against light-induced retinal degeneration in mice. SNJ-1945 was orally administrated at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg at 30 min before and just after light exposure. Light-induced calpain activation was evaluated by using proteolysis of α-spectrin and p35 (a neuron-specific activator for cyclin-dependent kinase 5). The effects of SNJ-1945 against light-induced retinal damage were examined by the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Photoreceptor apoptosis was assessed by counting terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in ONL. Retinal functions were measured in terms of a- and b-wave amplitudes by using an electroretinogram. As the mechanism of SNJ-1945, caspase-3/7 measurement was carried out. SNJ-1945 inhibited the proteolysis of α-spectrin and p35 by light exposure and presented a decrease in the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells and ONL atrophy. Furthermore, SNJ-1945 presented a decrease in a- and b-wave amplitude and caspase-3/7 activation induced by light exposure. These findings suggest that the activation of calpain plays a pivotal role in photoreceptor degeneration by light exposure, and SNJ-1945 may be a candidate for effectively treating diseases related to photoreceptor degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Imai
- Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
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