Thioredoxin-1 Negatively Modulates ADAM17 Activity Through Direct Binding and Indirect Reductive Activity

Thioredoxin (Trx): A redox target and modulator of cellular senescence and aging-related diseases

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a compact redox-regulatory protein that modulates cellular redox state by reducing oxidized proteins. Trx exhibits dual functionality as an antioxidant and a cofactor for diverse enzymes and transcription factors, thereby exerting influence over their activity and function. Trx has emerged as a pivotal biomarker for various diseases, particularly those associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging. Recent clinical investigations have underscored the significance of Trx in disease diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic elucidation. Despite its paramount importance, the intricate interplay between Trx and cellular senescence-a condition characterized by irreversible growth arrest induced by multiple aging stimuli-remains inadequately understood. In this review, our objective is to present a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the structure and function of Trx, its involvement in redox signaling pathways and cellular senescence, its association with aging and age-related diseases, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target. Our review aims to elucidate the novel and extensive role of Trx in senescence while highlighting its implications for aging and age-related diseases.

Thioredoxin Signaling Pathways in Cancer

Significance: Thioredoxin (Trx) is a powerful antioxidant that reduces protein disulfides to maintain redox stability in cells and is involved in regulating multiple redox-dependent signaling pathways. Recent Advance: The current accumulation of findings suggests that Trx participates in signaling pathways that interact with various proteins to manipulate their dynamic regulation of structure and function. These network pathways are critical for cancer pathogenesis and therapy. Promising clinical advances have been presented by most anticancer agents targeting such signaling pathways. Critical Issues: We herein link the signaling pathways regulated by the Trx system to potential cancer therapeutic opportunities, focusing on the coordination and strengths of the Trx signaling pathways in apoptosis, ferroptosis, immunomodulation, and drug resistance. We also provide a mechanistic network for the exploitation of therapeutic small molecules targeting the Trx signaling pathways. Future Directions: As research data accumulate, future complex networks of Trx-related signaling pathways will gain in detail. In-depth exploration and establishment of these signaling pathways, including Trx upstream and downstream regulatory proteins, will be critical to advancing novel cancer therapeutics. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 403-424.

S Protein, ACE2 and Host Cell Proteases in SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry and Infectivity; Is Soluble ACE2 a Two Blade Sword? A Narrative Review

Since the spread of the deadly virus SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, researchers have restlessly sought to unravel how the virus enters the host cells. Some proteins on each side of the interaction between the virus and the host cells are involved as the major contributors to this process: (1) the nano-machine spike protein on behalf of the virus, (2) angiotensin converting enzyme II, the mono-carboxypeptidase and the key component of renin angiotensin system on behalf of the host cell, (3) some host proteases and proteins exploited by SARS-CoV-2. In this review, the complex process of SARS-CoV-2 entrance into the host cells with the contribution of the involved host proteins as well as the sequential conformational changes in the spike protein tending to increase the probability of complexification of the latter with angiotensin converting enzyme II, the receptor of the virus on the host cells, are discussed. Moreover, the release of the catalytic ectodomain of angiotensin converting enzyme II as its soluble form in the extracellular space and its positive or negative impact on the infectivity of the virus are considered.

Contribution of ADAM17 and related ADAMs in cardiovascular diseases

A disintegrin and metalloproteases (ADAMs) are key mediators of cell signaling by ectodomain shedding of various growth factors, cytokines, receptors and adhesion molecules at the cellular membrane. ADAMs regulate cell proliferation, cell growth, inflammation, and other regular cellular processes. ADAM17, the most extensively studied ADAM family member, is also known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α converting enzyme (TACE). ADAMs-mediated shedding of cytokines such as TNF-α orchestrates immune system or inflammatory cascades and ADAMs-mediated shedding of growth factors causes cell growth or proliferation by transactivation of the growth factor receptors including epidermal growth factor receptor. Therefore, increased ADAMs-mediated shedding can induce inflammation, tissue remodeling and dysfunction associated with various cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, and ADAMs can be a potential therapeutic target in these diseases. In this review, we focus on the role of ADAMs in cardiovascular pathophysiology and cardiovascular diseases. The main aim of this review is to stimulate new interest in this area by highlighting remarkable evidence.

ADAM17 cytoplasmic domain modulates Thioredoxin-1 conformation and activity

The activity of Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is adjusted by the balance of its monomeric, active and its dimeric, inactive state. The regulation of this balance is not completely understood. We have previously shown that the cytoplasmic domain of the transmembrane protein A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17cyto) binds to Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and the destabilization of this interaction favors the dimeric state of Trx-1. Here, we investigate whether ADAM17 plays a role in the conformation and activation of Trx-1. We found that disrupting the interacting interface with Trx-1 by a site-directed mutagenesis in ADAM17 (ADAM17cyto^F730A) caused a decrease of Trx-1 reductive capacity and activity. Moreover, we observed that ADAM17 overexpressing cells favor the monomeric state of Trx-1 while knockdown cells do not. As a result, there is a decrease of cell oxidant levels and ADAM17 sheddase activity and an increase in the reduced cysteine-containing peptides in intracellular proteins in ADAM17cyto overexpressing cells. A mechanistic explanation that ADAM17cyto favors the monomeric, active state of Trx-1 is the formation of a disulfide bond between Cys⁸²⁴ at the C-terminal of ADAM17cyto with the Cys⁷³ of Trx-1, which is involved in the dimerization site of Trx-1. In summary, we propose that ADAM17 is able to modulate Trx-1 conformation affecting its activity and intracellular redox state, bringing up a novel possibility for positive regulation of thiol isomerase activity in the cell by mammalian metalloproteinases.

Epigenetic Regulation of a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM) Transcription in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Involvement of β-Catenin, BRG1, and KDM4

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family of proteins play versatile roles in cancer development and progression. In the present study, we investigated the role of ADAM proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell migration and invasion focusing on the epigenetic mechanism whereby ADAM transcription is regulated. We report that higher levels of ADAM10, ADAM17, and ADAM19 were detected in SW480 cells than in HCT116 cells. Expression levels of the same set of ADAMs were higher in human CRC biopsy specimens of advanced stages than in those of a less aggressive phenotype. Overexpression of ADAM10/17/19 in HCT116 cells enhanced, whereas depletion of ADAM10/17/19 in SW480 cells weakened, migration and invasion. ADAM expression was activated by the Wnt signaling pathway, which could be attributed to direct binding of β-catenin on the ADAM promoters. Mechanistically, β-catenin recruited the chromatin remodeling protein BRG1, which in turn enlisted histone demethylase KDM4 to alter the chromatin structure, thereby leading to ADAM transactivation. In conclusion, our data suggest that the Wnt signaling may promote CRC metastasis, at least in part, by recruiting an epigenetic complex to activate ADAM transcription.