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Suhail H, Peng H, Matrougui K, Rhaleb NE. Ac-SDKP attenuates ER stress-stimulated collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting CHOP-mediated NF-κB expression. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1352222. [PMID: 38495093 PMCID: PMC10940518 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1352222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation and cardiac fibrosis are prevalent pathophysiologic conditions associated with hypertension, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress triggers the cells to activate unfolded protein responses (UPRs) and upregulate the ER stress chaperon, enzymes, and downstream transcription factors to restore normal ER function. The mechanisms that link ER stress-induced UPRs upregulation and NF-κB activation that results in cardiac inflammation and collagen production remain elusive. N-Acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (Ac-SDKP), a natural tetrapeptide that negatively regulates inflammation and fibrosis, has been reported. Whether it can inhibit ER stress-induced collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts remains unclear. Thus, we hypothesized that Ac-SDKP attenuates ER stress-stimulated collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting CHOP-mediated NF-κB expression. We aimed to study whether Ac-SDKP inhibits tunicamycin (TM)-induced ER stress signaling, NF-κB signaling, the release of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, and collagen production in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs). HCFs were pre-treated with Ac-SDKP (10 nM) and then stimulated with TM (0.25 μg/mL). We found that Ac-SDKP inhibits TM-induced collagen production by attenuating ER stress-induced UPRs upregulation and CHOP/NF-κB transcriptional signaling pathways. CHOP deletion by specific shRNA maintains the inhibitory effect of Ac-SDKP on NF-κB and type-1 collagen (Col-1) expression at both protein and mRNA levels. Attenuating ER stress-induced UPR sensor signaling by Ac-SDKP seems a promising therapeutic strategy to combat detrimental cardiac inflammation and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Suhail
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Hongmei Peng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Khalid Matrougui
- Department of Physiology Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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2
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Han S, Wang S, Fan X, Chen M, Wang X, Huang Y, Zhang H, Ma Y, Wang J, Zhang C. Abnormal Expression of Prolyl Oligopeptidase (POP) and Its Catalytic Products Ac-SDKP Contributes to the Ovarian Fibrosis Change in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1927. [PMID: 37509566 PMCID: PMC10377061 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder and metabolic syndrome. Ovarian fibrosis pathological change in PCOS has gradually attracted people's attention. In this study, we constructed a PCOS mouse model through the use of dehydroepiandrosterone. Sirius red staining showed that the ovarian tissues in PCOS mice had obvious fibrosis. Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a serine protease and N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is its catalytic product. Studies show that abnormal expression and activity of POP and Ac-SDKP are closely related to tissue fibrosis. It was found that the expression of POP and Ac-SDKP was decreased in the ovaries of PCOS mice. Further studies showed that POP and Ac-SDKP promoted the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) expression and decreased the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in granulosa cells. Hyperandrogenemia is a typical symptom of PCOS. We found that testosterone induced the low expression of POP and MMP2 and high expression of TGF-β1 in granulosa cells. POP overexpression and Ac-SDKP treatment inhibited the effect of testosterone on TGF-β1 and MMP2 in vitro and inhibited ovarian fibrosis in the PCOS mouse model. In conclusion, PCOS ovarian tissue showed obvious fibrosis. Low expression of POP and Ac-SDKP and changes in fibrotic factors contribute to the ovarian pathological fibrosis induced by androgen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suo Han
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Center for Drug Inspection of Guizhou Medical Products Administration, Guizhou Medical Products Administration, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Shimeng Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xiang Fan
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Mengchi Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Yingtong Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Hongdan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Yinyin Ma
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Chunping Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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3
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Toppila M, Hytti M, Korhonen E, Ranta-Aho S, Harju N, Forsberg MM, Kaarniranta K, Jalkanen A, Kauppinen A. The Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitor KYP-2047 Is Cytoprotective and Anti-Inflammatory in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells with Defective Proteasomal Clearance. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1279. [PMID: 37372009 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased oxidative stress, dysfunctional cellular clearance, and chronic inflammation are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) is a serine protease that has numerous cellular functions, including the regulation of oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and inflammation. PREP inhibition by KYP-2047 (4-phenylbutanoyl-L-prolyl1(S)-cyanopyrrolidine) has been associated with clearance of cellular protein aggregates and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we studied the effects of KYP-2047 on inflammation, oxidative stress, cell viability, and autophagy in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells with reduced proteasomal clearance. MG-132-mediated proteasomal inhibition in ARPE-19 cells was used to model declined proteasomal clearance in the RPEs of AMD patients. Cell viability was assessed using LDH and MTT assays. The amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H2DCFDA). ELISA was used to determine the levels of cytokines and activated mitogen-activated protein kinases. The autophagy markers p62/SQSTM1 and LC3 were measured with the western blot method. MG-132 induced LDH leakage and increased ROS production in the ARPE-19 cells, and KYP-2047 reduced MG-132-induced LDH leakage. Production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was concurrently alleviated by KYP-2047 when compared with cells treated only with MG-132. KYP-2047 had no effect on autophagy in the RPE cells, but the phosphorylation levels of p38 and ERK1/2 were elevated upon KYP-2047 exposure, and the inhibition of p38 prevented the anti-inflammatory actions of KYP-2047. KYP-2047 showed cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on RPE cells suffering from MG-132-induced proteasomal inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija Toppila
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maria Hytti
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Eveliina Korhonen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sofia Ranta-Aho
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Niina Harju
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Markus M Forsberg
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aaro Jalkanen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Sonkawade SD, Xu S, Kim M, Nepali S, Karambizi VG, Sexton S, Turowski SG, Li K, Spernyak JA, Lovell JF, George A, Suwal S, Sharma UC, Pokharel S. Phospholipid Encapsulation of an Anti-Fibrotic Endopeptide to Enhance Cellular Uptake and Myocardial Retention. Cells 2023; 12:1589. [PMID: 37371059 PMCID: PMC10296995 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardioprotective effects of N-acetyl-ser-asp-lys-pro (Ac-SDKP) have been reported in preclinical models of myocardial remodeling. However, the rapid degradation of this endogenous peptide in vivo limits its clinical use. METHOD To prolong its bioavailability, Ac-SDKP was encapsulated by phosphocholine lipid bilayers (liposomes) similar to mammalian cell membranes. The physical properties of the liposome structures were assessed by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The uptake of Ac-SDKP by RAW 264.7 macrophages and human and murine primary cardiac fibroblasts was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Spectrum computerized tomography and competitive enzyme-linked immunoassays were performed to measure the ex vivo cardiac biodistribution of Ac-SDKP. The biological effects of this novel synthetic compound were examined in cultured macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts and in a murine model of acute myocardial infarction induced by permanent coronary artery ligation. RESULTS A liposome formulation resulted in the greater uptake of Ac-SDKP than the naked peptide by cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts. Liposome-delivered Ac-SDKP decreased fibroinflammatory genes in cultured cardiac fibroblasts co-treated with TGF-β1 and macrophages stimulated with LPS. Serial tissue and serum immunoassays showed the high bioavailability of Ac-SDKP in mouse myocardium and in circulation. Liposome-delivered Ac-SDKP improved cardiac function and reduced myocardial fibroinflammatory responses in mice with acute myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION Encapsulation of Ac-SDKP in a cell membrane-like phospholipid bilayer enhances its plasma and tissue bioavailability and offers cardioprotection against ischemic myocardial injury. Future clinical trials can use this novel approach to test small protective endogenous peptides in myocardial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati D. Sonkawade
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (S.D.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Shirley Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (S.D.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Minhyung Kim
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Sarmila Nepali
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Victoire-Grace Karambizi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (S.D.S.)
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Sandra Sexton
- Laboratory Animal Shared Resource, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Steven G. Turowski
- Translational Imaging Shared Resources, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Kunpeng Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Joseph A. Spernyak
- Translational Imaging Shared Resources, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jonathan F. Lovell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Anthony George
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Sujit Suwal
- Department of Chemistry, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
| | - Umesh C. Sharma
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (S.D.S.)
| | - Saraswati Pokharel
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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5
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Li S, Li Y, Liu Y, Wu Y, Wang Q, Jin L, Zhang D. Therapeutic Peptides for Treatment of Lung Diseases: Infection, Fibrosis, and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108642. [PMID: 37239989 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Various lung diseases endanger people's health. Side effects and pharmaceutical resistance complicate the treatment of acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer, necessitating the development of novel treatments. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to serve as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics. These peptides exhibit a broad antibacterial activity spectrum as well as immunomodulatory properties. Previous studies have shown that therapeutic peptides including AMPs had remarkable impacts on animal and cell models of acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. The purpose of this paper is to outline the potential curative effects and mechanisms of peptides in the three types of lung diseases mentioned above, which may be used as a therapeutic strategy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujiao Li
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Yuying Li
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Qiuyu Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Lili Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Dianbao Zhang
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of China, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
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6
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Mason WJ, Vasilopoulou E. The Pathophysiological Role of Thymosin β4 in the Kidney Glomerulus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097684. [PMID: 37175390 PMCID: PMC10177875 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases affecting the glomerulus, the filtration unit of the kidney, are a major cause of chronic kidney disease. Glomerular disease is characterised by injury of glomerular cells and is often accompanied by an inflammatory response that drives disease progression. New strategies are needed to slow the progression to end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or transplantation. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), an endogenous peptide that sequesters G-actin, has shown potent anti-inflammatory function in experimental models of heart, kidney, liver, lung, and eye injury. In this review, we discuss the role of endogenous and exogenous Tβ4 in glomerular disease progression and the current understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Mason
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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7
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Thymus transplantation regulates blood pressure and alleviates hypertension-associated heart and kidney damage via transcription factors FoxN1 pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109798. [PMID: 36738681 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have found that thymus is involved in the process of hypertension. However, whether thymus transplantation alleviates target organ damage in hypertensive mice remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thymus transplantation on blood pressure and target organ changes in mice with hypertension. Mice were randomly divided into normal control group (Con), hypertensive group (HTN) and thymus transplantation group (HTN + Trans). Thymus of neonatal mice was transplanted into the renal capsule of the transplantation group. After transplantation, the mouse tail noninvasive pressure was measured and heart function was evaluated weekly. Then mice were euthanized and organs or tissues were harvested at 4 weeks post-transplantation. The blood pressure of HTN + Trans group was lower than that in the HTN group. The expression of FoxN1, Aire, ATRAP, thymosin β4 and the content of sjTREC in thymus of HTN group was decreased and the number of naïve T cells in HTN group was lower compared with other two groups. The ratio of cTEC/mTEC in HTN group was higher than that in Con group and lower than that in HTN + Trans group. Cardiac pathology showed cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in HTN group whereas thymus transplantation improved heart function and structure. Altogether, our findings demonstrated thymus transplantation could improve thymus function of hypertensive mice, which increased the expression of thymus transcription factor FoxN1, affected the proportion of T cell subsets, and increased thymosin β4 thereby reducing blood pressure and reversing the progression of target organ damage.
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8
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Suhail H, Peng H, Xu J, Sabbah HN, Matrougui K, Liao TD, Ortiz PA, Bernstein KE, Rhaleb NE. Knockout of ACE-N facilitates improved cardiac function after myocardial infarction. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY PLUS 2023; 3:100024. [PMID: 36778784 PMCID: PMC9910327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmccpl.2022.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) hydrolyzes N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) into inactive fragments through its N-terminal site (ACE-N). We previously showed that Ac-SDKP mediates ACE inhibitors' cardiac effects. Whether increased bioavailability of endogenous Ac-SDKP caused by knocking out ACE-N also improves cardiac function in myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure (HF) is unknown. Wild-type (WT) and ACE-N knockout (ACE-NKO) mice were subjected to MI by ligating the left anterior descending artery and treated with vehicle or Ac-SDKP (1.6 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 5 weeks, after which echocardiography was performed and left ventricles (LV) were harvested for histology and molecular biology studies. ACE-NKO mice showed increased plasma Ac-SDKP concentrations in both sham and MI group compared to WT. Exogenous Ac-SDKP further increased its circulating concentrations in WT and ACE-NKO. Shortening (SF) and ejection (EF) fractions were significantly decreased in both WT and ACE-NKO mice post-MI, but ACE-NKO mice exhibited significantly lesser decrease. Exogenous Ac-SDKP ameliorated cardiac function post-MI only in WT but failed to show any additive improvement in ACE-NKO mice. Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA2), a marker of cardiac function and calcium homeostasis, was significantly decreased in WT post-MI but rescued with Ac-SDKP, whereas ACE-NKO mice displayed less loss of SERCA2 expression. Our study demonstrates that gene deletion of ACE-N resulted in improved LV cardiac function in mice post-MI, which is likely mediated by increased circulating Ac-SDKP and minimally reduced expression of SERCA2. Thus, future development of specific and selective inhibitors for ACE-N could represent a novel approach to increase endogenous Ac-SDKP toward protecting the heart from post-MI remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Suhail
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Hongmei Peng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Jiang Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of
Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Hani N. Sabbah
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of
Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Khalid Matrougui
- Department of Physiology Sciences, Eastern Virginia
Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA
| | - Tang-Dong Liao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Pablo A. Ortiz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit,
MI 48201, USA
| | - Kenneth E. Bernstein
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular
Research Division, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit,
MI 48201, USA
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9
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Kleinman HK, Kulik V, Goldstein AL. Thymosin β4 and the anti-fibrotic switch. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109628. [PMID: 36580759 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Wound healing involves a rapid response to the injury by circulating cells, followed by inflammation with an influx of inflammatory cells that release various factors. Soon after, cellular proliferation begins to replace the damaged cells and extracellular matrix, and then tissue remodeling restores normal tissue function. Various factors can lead to pathological wound healing when excessive and irreversible connective tissue/extracellular matrix deposition occurs, resulting in fibrosis. The process is initiated when immune cells, such as macrophages, release soluble factors that stimulate fibroblasts. TGFβ is the most well-characterized macrophage derived pro-fibrotic mediator. Other soluble mediators of fibrosis include connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and interleukin 10 (IL-10). Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has shown therapeutic benefit in preventing fibrosis/scarring in various animal models of fibrosis/scarring. The mechanism of action of Tβ4 appears related, in part, to a reduction in the inflammatory response, including a reduction in macrophage infiltration, decreased levels of TGFβ and IL-10, and reduced CTGF activation, resulting in both prevention of fibroblast conversion to myofibroblasts and production of normally aligned collagen fibers. The amino N-terminal end of Tβ4, SDKP (serine-aspartate-lysine-proline), appears to contain the majority of anti-fibrotic activity and has shown excellent efficacy in many animal models of fibrosis, including liver, lung, heart, and kidney fibrosis. Ac-SDKP not only prevents fibrosis but can reverse fibrosis. Unanswered questions and future directions will be presented with regard to therapeutic uses alone and in combination with already approved drugs for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hynda K Kleinman
- NIDCR, NIH, Bethesda, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
| | - Veronika Kulik
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Allan L Goldstein
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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10
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Wang W, Jia W, Zhang C. The Role of Tβ4-POP-Ac-SDKP Axis in Organ Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13282. [PMID: 36362069 PMCID: PMC9655242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathological process in which parenchymal cells are necrotic and excess extracellular matrix (ECM) is accumulated due to dysregulation of tissue injury repair. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a 43 amino acid multifunctional polypeptide that is involved in wound healing. Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is the main enzyme that hydrolyzes Tβ4 to produce its derivative N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) which is found to play a role in the regulation of fibrosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that the Tβ4-POP-Ac-SDKP axis widely exists in various tissues and organs including the liver, kidney, heart, and lung, and participates in the process of fibrogenesis. Herein, we aim to elucidate the role of Tβ4-POP-Ac-SDKP axis in hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Based on this, we attempted to provide novel therapeutic strategies for the regulation of tissue damage repair and anti-fibrosis therapy. The Tβ4-POP-Ac-SDKP axis exerts protective effects against organ fibrosis. It is promising that appropriate dosing regimens that rely on this axis could serve as a new therapeutic strategy for alleviating organ fibrosis in the early and late stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Wenning Jia
- Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Chunping Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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11
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Proline-specific peptidase activities (DPP4, PRCP, FAP and PREP) in plasma of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 531:4-11. [PMID: 35283094 PMCID: PMC8920094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 patients experience several features of dysregulated immune system observed in sepsis. We previously showed a dysregulation of several proline-selective peptidases such as dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP), prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) and prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP) in sepsis. In this study, we investigated whether these peptidases are similarly dysregulated in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. METHODS Fifty-six hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 32 healthy controls were included. Enzymatic activities of DPP4, FAP, PREP and PRCP were measured in samples collected shortly after hospital admission and in longitudinal follow-up samples. RESULTS Compared to healthy controls, both DPP4 and FAP activities were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients at hospital admission and FAP activity further decreased significantly in the first week of hospitalization. While PRCP activity remained unchanged, PREP activity was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients at hospitalization and further increased during hospital stay and stayed elevated until the day of discharge. CONCLUSION The changes in activities of proline-selective peptidases in plasma are very similar in COVID-19 and septic shock patients. The pronounced decrease in FAP activity deserves further investigation, both from a pathophysiological viewpoint and as its utility as a part of a biomarker panel.
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12
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Lunin SM, Novoselova EG, Glushkova OV, Parfenyuk SB, Novoselova TV, Khrenov MO. Cell Senescence and Central Regulators of Immune Response. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084109. [PMID: 35456927 PMCID: PMC9028919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathways regulating cell senescence and cell cycle underlie many processes associated with ageing and age-related pathologies, and they also mediate cellular responses to exposure to stressors. Meanwhile, there are central mechanisms of the regulation of stress responses that induce/enhance or weaken the response of the whole organism, such as hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, thymic hormones, and the pineal hormone melatonin. Although there are many analyses considering relationships between the HPA axis and organism ageing, we found no systematic analyses of relationships between the neuroendocrine regulators of stress and inflammation and intracellular mechanisms controlling cell cycle, senescence, and apoptosis. Here, we provide a review of the effects of neuroendocrine regulators on these mechanisms. Our analysis allowed us to postulate a multilevel system of central regulators involving neurotransmitters, glucocorticoids, melatonin, and the thymic hormones. This system finely regulates the cell cycle and metabolic/catabolic processes depending on the level of systemic stress, stage of stress response, and energy capabilities of the body, shifting the balance between cell cycle progression, cell cycle stopping, senescence, and apoptosis. These processes and levels of regulation should be considered when studying the mechanisms of ageing and the proliferation on the level of the whole organism.
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13
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The Nephrotoxin Puromycin Aminonucleoside Induces Injury in Kidney Organoids Differentiated from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040635. [PMID: 35203286 PMCID: PMC8870209 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can progress to end stage renal disease (ESRD), are a worldwide health burden. Organ transplantation or kidney dialysis are the only effective available therapeutic tools. Therefore, in vitro models of kidney diseases and the development of prospective therapeutic options are urgently needed. Within the kidney, the glomeruli are involved in blood filtration and waste excretion and are easily affected by changing cellular conditions. Puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) is a nephrotoxin, which can be employed to induce acute glomerular damage and to model glomerular disease. For this reason, we generated kidney organoids from three iPSC lines and treated these with PAN in order to induce kidney injury. Morphological observations revealed the disruption of glomerular and tubular structures within the kidney organoids upon PAN treatment, which were confirmed by transcriptome analyses. Subsequent analyses revealed an upregulation of immune response as well as inflammatory and cell-death-related processes. We conclude that the treatment of iPSC-derived kidney organoids with PAN induces kidney injury mediated by an intertwined network of inflammation, cytoskeletal re-arrangement, DNA damage, apoptosis and cell death. Furthermore, urine-stem-cell-derived kidney organoids can be used to model kidney-associated diseases and drug discovery.
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14
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Ramasamy V, Ntsekhe M, Sturrock E. Investigating the antifibrotic potential of N-acetyl seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline sequence peptides. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2021; 48:1558-1565. [PMID: 34347311 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a physiological antifibrotic peptide that is hydrolysed by angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). The beneficial antifibrotic effects of ACE inhibitors have been attributed, in part, to its inhibition of Ac-SDKP cleavage. There is indirect evidence that the SDK fragment of Ac-SDKP is the main component required for its antiproliferative action. However, the exact component of the physiological peptide that is responsible for its antifibrotic effect has yet to be determined. Ac-SDKP-derived analogues that are resistant to ACE degradation may provide a new avenue for fibrosis therapy. We tested the antifibrotic potential of various Ac-SDKP peptide sequences and an analogue resistant to ACE degradation in lung fibroblasts. We investigated the contribution and molecular mechanism of action of the amino acid residues in the Ac-SDKP sequence to its antifibrotic effects, and the effects of Ac-SDKP peptides in the prevention of collagen deposition in cells. The Ac-DKP fragment moderately inhibited endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediated transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β) expression, and could be slowly cleaved by ACE, revealing a different sequence requirement for the antifibrotic action of Ac-SDKP. The Ac-SDψKP analogue (where the peptide bond between the aspartate and lysine is reduced) inhibited TGF-β/small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad)-3 signalling and collagen deposition. The Ac-SDKP peptide, in combination with ACEi, demonstrated a greater inhibition of hydroxyproline as compared to Ac-SDKP alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinasha Ramasamy
- Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mpiko Ntsekhe
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edward Sturrock
- Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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15
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Payne GA, Sharma NS, Lal CV, Song C, Guo L, Margaroli C, Viera L, Kumar S, Li J, Xing D, Bosley M, Xu X, Wells JM, George JF, Tallaj J, Leesar M, Blalock JE, Gaggar A. Prolyl endopeptidase contributes to early neutrophilic inflammation in acute myocardial transplant rejection. JCI Insight 2021; 6:139687. [PMID: 33571164 PMCID: PMC8026194 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered inflammation and tissue remodeling are cardinal features of cardiovascular disease and cardiac transplant rejection. Neutrophils have increasingly been understood to play a critical role in acute rejection and early allograft failure; however, discrete mechanisms that drive this damage remain poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that early acute cardiac rejection increases allograft prolyl endopeptidase (PE) in association with de novo production of the neutrophil proinflammatory matrikine proline-glycine-proline (PGP). In a heterotopic murine heart transplant model, PGP production and PE activity were associated with early neutrophil allograft invasion and allograft failure. Pharmacologic inhibition of PE with Z-Pro-prolinal reduced PGP, attenuated early neutrophil graft invasion, and reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression. Importantly, these changes helped preserve allograft rejection-free survival and function. Notably, within 2 independent patient cohorts, both PGP and PE activity were increased among patients with biopsy-proven rejection. The observed induction of PE and matrikine generation provide a link between neutrophilic inflammation and cardiovascular injury, represent a potential target to reduce allogenic immune responses, and uncover a mechanism of cardiovascular disease that has been previously unrecognized to our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Payne
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine.,Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, and.,Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Medical Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Nirmal S Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charitharth V Lal
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Chunyan Song
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine
| | - Lingling Guo
- Department of Surgery.,Nephrology Research & Training Center, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine
| | - Camilla Margaroli
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Liliana Viera
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Siva Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jindong Li
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Dongqi Xing
- Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program.,Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Xin Xu
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
| | - J Michael Wells
- Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Medical Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James F George
- Department of Surgery.,Nephrology Research & Training Center, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine
| | - Jose Tallaj
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, and
| | - Massoud Leesar
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, and
| | - J Edwin Blalock
- Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program.,Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Amit Gaggar
- Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program.,Program in Protease and Matrix Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Medical Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and.,Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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16
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Qiu Y, Wang Z, Zhang X, Huang P, Zhang W, Zhang K, Wang S, He L, Guo Y, Xiang A, Zhang C, Hao Q, Li M, Li W, Zhang Y. A long-acting isomer of Ac-SDKP attenuates pulmonary fibrosis through SRPK1-mediated PI3K/AKT and Smad2 pathway inhibition. IUBMB Life 2020; 72:2611-2626. [PMID: 33135306 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, life-threatening lung disease with a poor prognosis. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a critical negative regulator of fibrosis development. However, it's extremely short half-life greatly limits its applications. Previously, we reported an Ac-SDKP analog peptide in which Asp and Lys residues were replaced with D-amino acids (Ac-SDD KD P). Ac-SDD KD P exhibits better resistance to angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE)-mediated degradation and a longer half-life than Ac-SDKP in rat and human sera. The objective of this study was to explore the potential application of Ac-SDD KD P for the treatment of IPF and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. We found that Ac-SDD KD P exerted similar antifibrotic effects as Ac-SDKP on human fetal lung fibroblast-1 (HFL-1) proliferation, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I and collagen III expression, and Smad-2 phosphorylation in vitro. In vivo, Ac-SDD KD P exhibited significantly greater protective effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis than Ac-SDKP in mice. α-SMA, CD45, collagen I and collagen III expression, and Smad-2 phosphorylation were significantly decreased in the lungs of Ac-SDD KD P-treated but not Ac-SDKP-treated mice. Furthermore, a pull-down experiment was used to screen for molecules that interact with Ac-SDKP. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and computer-based molecular docking experiments demonstrated an interaction between Ac-SDKP or Ac-SDD KD P (Ac-SDKP/Ac-SDD KD P) and serine/arginine-rich protein-specific kinase 1 (SRPK1) that caused inhibition SRPK1-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/ serine/threonine kinase (PIK3/AKT) signaling pathway activation and Smad2 phosphorylation and thereby attenuated lung fibrosis. Our data suggest that long-acting Ac-SDD KD P may potentially be an effective drug for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. The interacting molecule and antifibrotic mechanism of Ac-SDKP/Ac-SDD KD P were also identified, providing an experimental and theoretical foundation for the clinical application of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyuan Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhaowei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xutao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ping Huang
- The Brigade of Undergraduates, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wangqian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei He
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanhai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - An Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Cun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weina Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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17
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Hamid S, Rhaleb IA, Kassem KM, Rhaleb NE. Role of Kinins in Hypertension and Heart Failure. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E347. [PMID: 33126450 PMCID: PMC7692223 DOI: 10.3390/ph13110347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) is proposed to act as a counter regulatory system against the vasopressor hormonal systems such as the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), aldosterone, and catecholamines. Evidence exists that supports the idea that the KKS is not only critical to blood pressure but may also oppose target organ damage. Kinins are generated from kininogens by tissue and plasma kallikreins. The putative role of kinins in the pathogenesis of hypertension is discussed based on human mutation cases on the KKS or rats with spontaneous mutation in the kininogen gene sequence and mouse models in which the gene expressing only one of the components of the KKS has been deleted or over-expressed. Some of the effects of kinins are mediated via activation of the B2 and/or B1 receptor and downstream signaling such as eicosanoids, nitric oxide (NO), endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and/or tissue plasminogen activator (T-PA). The role of kinins in blood pressure regulation at normal or under hypertension conditions remains debatable due to contradictory reports from various laboratories. Nevertheless, published reports are consistent on the protective and mediating roles of kinins against ischemia and cardiac preconditioning; reports also demonstrate the roles of kinins in the cardiovascular protective effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Hamid
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (S.H.); (I.A.R.)
| | - Imane A. Rhaleb
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (S.H.); (I.A.R.)
| | - Kamal M. Kassem
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (S.H.); (I.A.R.)
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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18
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Dunaevsky YE, Tereshchenkova VF, Oppert B, Belozersky MA, Filippova IY, Elpidina EN. Human proline specific peptidases: A comprehensive analysis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1864:129636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Lunin S, Khrenov M, Glushkova O, Parfenyuk S, Novoselova T, Novoselova E. Precursors of thymic peptides as stress sensors. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:1461-1475. [PMID: 32700610 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1800636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A large volume of data indicates that the known thymic hormones, thymulin, thymopoietin, thymosin-α, thymosin-β, and thymic humoral factor-y2, exhibit different spectra of activities. Although large in volume, available data are rather fragmented, resulting in a lack of understanding of the role played by thymic hormones in immune homeostasis. AREA COVERED Existing data compartmentalizes the effect of thymic peptides into 2 categories: influence on immune cells and interconnection with neuroendocrine systems. The current study draws attention to a third aspect of the thymic peptide effect that has not been clarified yet, wherein ubiquitous and highly abundant intranuclear precursors of so called 'thymic peptides' play a fundamental role in all somatic cells. EXPERT OPINION Our analysis indicated that, under certain stress-related conditions, these precursors are cleaved to form immunologically active peptides that rapidly leave the nucleus and intracellular spaces, to send 'distress signals' to the immune system, thereby acting as stress sensors. We propose that these peptides may form a link between somatic cells and immune as well as neuroendocrine systems. This model may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying immune homeostasis, leading thereby to the development of new therapeutic regimes utilizing the characteristics of thymic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Lunin
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
| | - Maxim Khrenov
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
| | - Olga Glushkova
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
| | - Svetlana Parfenyuk
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
| | - Tatyana Novoselova
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
| | - E Novoselova
- Laboratory of Reception Mechanisms, Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS , Pushchino, Russia
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20
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Mizunuma Y, Kanasaki K, Nitta K, Nakamura Y, Ishigaki Y, Takagaki Y, Kitada M, Li S, Liu H, Li J, Usui I, Aso Y, Koya D. CD-1 db/db mice: A novel type 2 diabetic mouse model with progressive kidney fibrosis. J Diabetes Investig 2020; 11:1470-1481. [PMID: 32472621 PMCID: PMC7610117 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims/Introduction To establish novel therapies to combat diabetic kidney disease, a human disease‐relevant animal model is essential. However, a type 2 diabetic mouse model presenting progressive kidney fibrosis has not yet been established. Kidneys of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic CD‐1 mice showed severe fibrosis compared with other backgrounds of mice associated with the suppression of antifibrotic peptide N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐lysyl‐proline. The BKS background (BKSdb/db) is often utilized for diabetic kidney disease research; the kidney fibrosis in the BKSdb/db phenotype is minimal. Materials and Methods We generated CD‐1db/db mice by backcrossing the db gene into the CD‐1 background, and analyzed phenotypic differences compared with BKSdb/db and CD‐1db/m mice. Results Male CD‐1db/db mice appeared to have elevated blood glucose levels compared with those of BKSdb/db mice. Fasting insulin levels declined in CD‐1db/db mice. Plasma cystatin C levels tended to be elevated in CD‐1db/db mice from 16 to 24 weeks‐of‐age. Male CD‐1db/db mice showed significantly progressive kidney and heart fibrosis from 16 to 24 weeks‐of‐age when compared with that of age‐matched BKSdb/db mice. The gene expression profile showed fibrogenic program‐associated genes in male CD‐1db/db mice. Male CD‐1db/db mice displayed significantly lower urine antifibrotic peptide N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐lysyl‐proline when compared to that of BKSdb/db at 24 weeks‐of‐age. The gene expression of prolyl oligopeptidase, the enzyme essential for antifibrotic peptide N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐lysyl‐proline production from thymosin β4, was significantly lower in the CD‐1 mice. Thymosin β4 levels were also lower in CD‐1 mice. Conclusions These results suggest that CD‐1db/db mice are a novel type 2 diabetic mouse model with progressive kidney and heart fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuiko Mizunuma
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Keizo Kanasaki
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Internal Medicine 1, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan
| | - Kyoko Nitta
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yuka Nakamura
- Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Ishigaki
- Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yuta Takagaki
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Munehiro Kitada
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shaolan Li
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Haijie Liu
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Jinpeng Li
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Isao Usui
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Aso
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Koya
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
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21
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Kanasaki K. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline is a valuable endogenous antifibrotic peptide for kidney fibrosis in diabetes: An update and translational aspects. J Diabetes Investig 2020; 11:516-526. [PMID: 31997585 PMCID: PMC7232267 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) is an endogenous peptide that has been confirmed to show excellent organ-protective effects. Even though originally discovered as a modulator of hemotopoietic stem cells, during the recent two decades, AcSDKP has been recognized as valuable antifibrotic peptide. The antifibrotic mechanism of AcSDKP is not yet clear; we have established that AcSDKP could target endothelial-mesenchymal transition program through the induction of the endothelial fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway. Also, recent reports suggested the clinical significance of AcSDKP. The aim of this review was to update recent advances of the mechanistic action of AcSDKP and discuss translational research aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keizo Kanasaki
- Internal Medicine 1Faculty of MedicineShimane UniversityIzumoJapan
- Department of Diabetology and EndocrinologyKanazawa Medical UniversityUchinadaJapan
- Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and TechnologyKanazawa Medical UniversityUchinadaJapan
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22
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Peng H, Xu J, Yang XP, Kassem KM, Rhaleb IA, Peterson E, Rhaleb NE. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline treatment protects heart against excessive myocardial injury and heart failure in mice. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2019; 97:753-765. [PMID: 30998852 PMCID: PMC6824427 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2019-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) in mice results in cardiac rupture at 4-7 days after MI, whereas cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction occur later. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) has anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and pro-angiogenic properties. We hypothesized that Ac-SDKP reduces cardiac rupture and adverse cardiac remodeling, and improves function by promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting detrimental reactive fibrosis and inflammation after MI. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to MI and treated with Ac-SDKP (1.6 mg/kg per day) for 1 or 5 weeks. We analyzed (1) intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression; (2) inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis; (3) gelatinolytic activity; (4) incidence of cardiac rupture; (5) p53, the endoplasmic reticulum stress marker CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homology protein (CHOP), and cardiomyocyte apoptosis; (6) sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2) expression; (7) interstitial collagen fraction and capillary density; and (8) cardiac remodeling and function. Acutely, Ac-SDKP reduced cardiac rupture, decreased ICAM-1 expression and the number of infiltrating macrophages, decreased gelatinolytic activity, p53 expression, and myocyte apoptosis, but increased capillary density in the infarction border. Chronically, Ac-SDKP improved cardiac structures and function, reduced CHOP expression and interstitial collagen fraction, and preserved myocardium SERCA2 expression. Thus, Ac-SDKP decreased cardiac rupture, ameliorated adverse cardiac remodeling, and improved cardiac function after MI, likely through preserved SERCA2 expression and inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Peng
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Jiang Xu
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Xiao-Ping Yang
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Kamal M Kassem
- b Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Imane A Rhaleb
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Ed Peterson
- c Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- d Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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23
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Kassem KM, Vaid S, Peng H, Sarkar S, Rhaleb NE. Tβ4-Ac-SDKP pathway: Any relevance for the cardiovascular system? Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2019; 97:589-599. [PMID: 30854877 PMCID: PMC6824425 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2018-0570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The last 20 years witnessed the emergence of the thymosin β4 (Tβ4)-N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) pathway as a new source of future therapeutic tools to treat cardiovascular and renal diseases. In this review article, we attempted to shed light on the numerous experimental findings pertaining to the many promising cardiovascular therapeutic avenues for Tβ4 and (or) its N-terminal derivative, Ac-SDKP. Specifically, Ac-SDKP is endogenously produced from the 43-amino acid Tβ4 by 2 successive enzymes, meprin α and prolyl oligopeptidase. We also discussed the possible mechanisms involved in the Tβ4-Ac-SDKP-associated cardiovascular biological effects. In infarcted myocardium, Tβ4 and Ac-SDKP facilitate cardiac repair after infarction by promoting endothelial cell migration and myocyte survival. Additionally, Tβ4 and Ac-SDKP have antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties in the arteries, heart, lungs, and kidneys, and stimulate both in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis. The effects of Tβ4 can be mediated directly through a putative receptor (Ku80) or via its enzymatically released N-terminal derivative Ac-SDKP. Despite the localization and characterization of Ac-SDKP binding sites in myocardium, more studies are needed to fully identify and clone Ac-SDKP receptors. It remains promising that Ac-SDKP or its degradation-resistant analogs could serve as new therapeutic tools to treat cardiac, vascular, and renal injury and dysfunction to be used alone or in combination with the already established pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal M Kassem
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- b Internal Medicine Department, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Sonal Vaid
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- c Internal Medicine Department, St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
| | - Hongmei Peng
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Sarah Sarkar
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- a Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- d Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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24
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Zhang X, Zhou J, Zhu Y, He L, Pang Z, Wang Z, Xu C, Zhang C, Hao Q, Li W, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Li M. d-amino acid modification protects N-Acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline from physiological hydroxylation and increases its antifibrotic effects on hepatic fibrosis. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1302-1312. [PMID: 30900390 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
N-Acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a critical negative regulator of fibrosis development in the liver. However, its extremely short half-life in vivo greatly compromises its potential applications. Here, we report an Ac-SDKP analog peptide with d-amino acid replacement (Ac-SDD KD P). The stability of Ac-SDD KD P and its prevention of liver fibrosis were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The stabilities of Ac-SDKP and Ac-SDD KD P exposed to angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) and their half-lives in rats and human sera were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The inhibitory effects of Ac-SDKP and Ac-SDD KD P on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8, Western blotting, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assays. Finally, the protective effects of Ac-SDKP and Ac-SDD KD P on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 )-induced liver fibrosis in rats were compared. d-Amino acid replacement significantly enhanced the stability of the peptide to ACE and prolonged the half-life of Ac-SDKP in rats and human sera. The Ac-SDKP-mediated inhibition of HSC-T6 cell proliferation was well preserved, and Ac-SDD KD P exerted inhibitory effects comparable to Ac-SDKP on α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I and III expression, and phosphorylated-Smad-2 expression. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration, Ac-SDD KD P exhibited significantly greater protection than Ac-SDKP against CCl4 -induced liver fibrosis in rats. The serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, and total protein levels of the Ac-SDD KD P-treated rats were significantly lower than those of the Ac-SDKP-treated rats. α-SMA, CD45, and collagen I and III expression, as well as Smad-2 phosphorylation were significantly attenuated in the livers of the Ac-SDD KD P-treated rats compared to those of the Ac-SDKP-treated rats. Furthermore, we showed that the Ac-SDD KD P concentration in the rat liver increased to a physiological level of 60 min after i.p. administration, although i.p. administration of Ac-SDKP failed to enhance the peptide concentration in the rat liver. Our findings indicate that d-amino acid replacement is a simple and effective method to enhance the stability of Ac-SDKP. Ac-SDD KD P represents potential application of Ac-SDKP in fibrosis treatment and provides a new potential treatment strategy for liver fibrosis. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1302-1312, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xutao Zhang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Jiming Zhou
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China.,Department of Cardiology, 988 Central Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yichao Zhu
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China.,The Brigade of Undergraduates, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei He
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Zhijun Pang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Zhaowei Wang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Chuanyang Xu
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Cun Zhang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Qiang Hao
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Weina Li
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Yingqi Zhang
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Meng Li
- Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
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25
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Romero CA, Kumar N, Nakagawa P, Worou ME, Liao TD, Peterson EL, Carretero OA. Renal release of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline is part of an antifibrotic peptidergic system in the kidney. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2018; 316:F195-F203. [PMID: 30403163 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00270.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The antifibrotic peptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is released from thymosin-β4 (Tβ4) by the meprin-α and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) enzymes and is hydrolyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Ac-SDKP is present in urine; however, it is not clear whether de novo tubular release occurs or if glomerular filtration is the main source. We hypothesized that Ac-SDKP is released into the lumen of the nephrons and that it exerts an antifibrotic effect. We determined the presence of Tβ4, meprin-α, and POP in the kidneys of Sprague-Dawley rats. The stop-flow technique was used to evaluate Ac-SDKP formation in different nephron segments. Finally, we decreased Ac-SDKP formation by inhibiting the POP enzyme and evaluated the long-term effect in renal fibrosis. The Tβ4 precursor and the releasing enzymes meprin-α and POP were expressed in the kidneys. POP enzyme activity was almost double that in the renal medulla compared with the renal cortex. With the use of the stop-flow technique, we detected the highest Ac-SDKP concentrations in the distal nephron. The infusion of a POP inhibitor into the kidney decreased the amount of Ac-SDKP in distal nephron segments and in the proximal nephron to a minor extent. An ACE inhibitor increased the Ac-SDKP content in all nephron segments, but the increase was highest in the distal portion. The chronic infusion of a POP inhibitor increased kidney medullary fibrosis, which was prevented by Ac-SDKP. We conclude that Ac-SDKP is released by the nephron and is part of an important antifibrotic system in the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A Romero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Nitin Kumar
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Pablo Nakagawa
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Morel E Worou
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Tang-Dong Liao
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Edward L Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
| | - Oscar A Carretero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital , Detroit, Michigan
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26
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Eriguchi M, Bernstein EA, Veiras LC, Khan Z, Cao DY, Fuchs S, McDonough AA, Toblli JE, Gonzalez-Villalobos RA, Bernstein KE, Giani JF. The Absence of the ACE N-Domain Decreases Renal Inflammation and Facilitates Sodium Excretion during Diabetic Kidney Disease. J Am Soc Nephrol 2018; 29:2546-2561. [PMID: 30185469 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2018030323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence emphasizes the critical role of inflammation in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an active role in regulating the renal inflammatory response associated with diabetes. Studies have also shown that ACE has roles in inflammation and the immune response that are independent of angiotensin II. ACE's two catalytically independent domains, the N- and C-domains, can process a variety of substrates other than angiotensin I. METHODS To examine the relative contributions of each ACE domain to the sodium retentive state, renal inflammation, and renal injury associated with diabetic kidney disease, we used streptozotocin to induce diabetes in wild-type mice and in genetic mouse models lacking either a functional ACE N-domain (NKO mice) or C-domain (CKO mice). RESULTS In response to a saline challenge, diabetic NKO mice excreted 32% more urinary sodium compared with diabetic wild-type or CKO mice. Diabetic NKO mice also exhibited 55% less renal epithelial sodium channel cleavage (a marker of channel activity), 55% less renal IL-1β, 53% less renal TNF-α, and 53% less albuminuria than diabetic wild-type mice. This protective phenotype was not associated with changes in renal angiotensin II levels. Further, we present evidence that the anti-inflammatory tetrapeptide N-acetyl-seryl-asparyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP), an ACE N-domain-specific substrate that accumulates in the urine of NKO mice, mediates the beneficial effects observed in the NKO. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that increasing AcSDKP by blocking the ACE N-domain facilitates sodium excretion and ameliorates diabetic kidney disease independent of intrarenal angiotensin II regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sebastien Fuchs
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California
| | - Alicia A McDonough
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jorge E Toblli
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, University of Buenos Aires, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and
| | - Romer A Gonzalez-Villalobos
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences and.,Cardiovascular and Metabolism Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Kenneth E Bernstein
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences and.,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
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27
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The anti-inflammatory peptide Ac-SDKP: Synthesis, role in ACE inhibition, and its therapeutic potential in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacol Res 2018; 134:268-279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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28
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Maheshwari M, Romero CA, Monu SR, Kumar N, Liao TD, Peterson EL, Carretero OA. Renal Protective Effects of N-Acetyl-Seryl-Aspartyl-Lysyl-Proline (Ac-SDKP) in Obese Rats on a High-Salt Diet. Am J Hypertens 2018; 31:902-909. [PMID: 29722788 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpy052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a public health problem, associated with salt sensitive hypertension, kidney inflammation, and fibrosis. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a tetra peptide with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. However, its effect on preventing kidney damage in obesity is unknown. We hypothesized that Zucker obese (ZO) rats on a high-salt (HS) diet develop renal damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and this is prevented with Ac-SDKP treatment. METHODS Zucker lean (ZL) and ZO rats (8 weeks old) were treated with Ac-SDKP (1.6 mg/kg/day) while maintained on either a normal-salt (NS; 0.4%) or HS (4%) diet for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), albuminuria, renal inflammation, and fibrosis were evaluated. RESULTS HS diet increased macrophage infiltration in the kidneys of both ZL and ZO rats but was significantly higher in ZO rats receiving the HS diet (ZL + NS, 13.9 ± 1.3 vs. ZL + HS, 19.14 ± 1.5 and ZO + NS, 25.5 ± 1.4 vs. ZO + HS, 87.8 ± 10.8 cells/mm2; P < 0.05). Ac-SDKP prevented macrophage infiltration in ZO rats (ZO + HS + Ac-SDKP, 32.18 ± 2.4 cells/mm2; P < 0.05). Similarly, glomerulosclerosis, cortical, and medullary interstitial fibrosis were increased in ZO rats fed the HS diet, and Ac-SDKP attenuated these alterations (P < 0.05). SBP was increased in ZO rats fed the HS diet (ZO + NS, 121.3 ± 8.9 vs. ZO + HS, 164 ± 6.9 mm Hg; P < 0.05), and it was significantly decreased with Ac-SDKP treatment (ZO + HS + Ac-SDKP, 144.05 ± 14.1 mm Hg; P = 0.004). Albuminuria was higher in ZO rats than in ZL rats; however, neither HS nor Ac-SDKP treatment affected it. CONCLUSIONS Ac-SDKP treatment in ZO rats fed a HS diet prevented renal damage by reducing inflammation, fibrosis, and SBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mani Maheshwari
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Cesar A Romero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sumit R Monu
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nitin Kumar
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tang-Dong Liao
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Edward L Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Oscar A Carretero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
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29
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Dai X, Hua L, Chen Y, Wang J, Li J, Wu F, Zhang Y, Su J, Wu Z, Liang C. Mechanisms in hypertension and target organ damage: Is the role of the thymus key? (Review). Int J Mol Med 2018; 42:3-12. [PMID: 29620247 PMCID: PMC5979885 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of cells and cytokines have been shown to be involved in the whole process of hypertension. Data from experimental and clinical studies on hypertension have confirmed the key roles of immune cells and inflammation in the process. Dysfunction of the thymus, which modulates the development and maturation of lymphocytes, has been shown to be associated with the severity of hypertension. Furthermore, gradual atrophy, functional decline or loss of the thymus has been revealed to be associated with aging. The restoration or enhancement of thymus function via upregulation in the expression of thymus transcription factors forkhead box N1 or thymus transplantation may provide an option to halt or reverse the pathological process of hypertension. Therefore, the thymus may be key in hypertension and associated target organ damage, and may provide a novel treatment strategy for the clinical management of patients with hypertension in addition to different commercial drugs. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss the advances in our understanding of the impact of thymus function on hypertension from data from animal and human studies, and the potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jiamei Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Jingyi Li
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Yanda Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Jiyuan Su
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Zonggui Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
| | - Chun Liang
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China
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30
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Musaya J, Matovu E, Senga E, Nyirenda M, Chisi J. AcSDKP is down-regulated in anaemia induced by Trypanosoma brucei infection in mice. Malawi Med J 2018; 29:259-264. [PMID: 29872517 PMCID: PMC5811999 DOI: 10.4314/mmj.v29i3.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anaemia commonly results from destruction of erythrocytes in the peripheral blood and failure of the bone marrow haematopoietic cells to replenish the erythrocytes. The mechanisms involved in trypanosoma-induced anaemia, including the role of the bone marrow haematopoietic cells are incompletely understood. We studied the responses of a tetrapeptide, AcSDKP, and IL-10, and their association with bone marrow nucleated cells in a Trypanosoma brucei brucei GVR35 experimental infection model. Methods Mouse infection was done intraperitoneally with 1 × 103 trypanosomes/mL. Mice were either infected or left uninfected (N = 100). At days 0, 9, 16, 23, 30, 37, and 44 post-infection, mice were euthanised and blood was collected by cardiac puncture to examine for parasitaemia and packed cell volume (PCV) and then centrifuged for plasma, which was used for cytokine ELISA. The mice's femurs were also dissected and bone marrow was collected for femur cellularity. Results PCV dropped from 39.6% to 27% in infected animals by day 9 and remained low (relative to uninfected mice) for the duration of the experiment. AcSDKP levels decreased from day 0 (11.5 × 104 pg/mL) to day 16 (10 × 104), and increased by day 30 (12.6 × 104). There was a significant difference at day 16 (P = 0.023) between the infected and uninfected groups. By contrast, expression of IL-10 markedly increased between day 0 (18.6 pg/mL) and day 16 (145 pg/mL) and decreased by day 30 (42.8 pg/mL). There was also a significant difference in IL-10 expression between infected and uninfected mice at day 16 (P < 0.001). Bone marrow nucleated cells were significantly reduced during periods of low plasma AcSDKP and high plasma IL-10 concentrations (5.4 × 106 infected vs 6.2 × 106 on day 0 and 4.9 × 106 infected vs 10 × 106 uninfected on day 16). Conclusions These data unravel a possible negative feedback interaction between AcSDKP and IL-10 in trypanosome infection. More importantly, this study implicates an IL-10/AcSDKP cytokine network in the regulation of bone marrow nucleated cells and provides a new potential mechanism in the pathogenesis of trypanosoma-induced anaemia. Further mechanistic blocking experiments on AcSDKP and IL-10 are recommended to further clarify understanding of the interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelisa Musaya
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Enock Matovu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Edward Senga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Moffat Nyirenda
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU), Lilongwe, Malawi.,London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Chisi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
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31
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Vasilopoulou E, Riley PR, Long DA. Thymosin-β4: A key modifier of renal disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:185-192. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1473371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Vasilopoulou
- Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, UK
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Paul R. Riley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David A. Long
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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32
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Kumar N, Liao TD, Romero CA, Maheshwari M, Peterson EL, Carretero OA. Thymosin β4 Deficiency Exacerbates Renal and Cardiac Injury in Angiotensin-II-Induced Hypertension. Hypertension 2018; 71:1133-1142. [PMID: 29632102 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.10952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a ubiquitous peptide, regulates several cellular processes that include cell morphology, wound healing, and inflammatory response. Administration of exogenous Tβ4 is protective in diabetic nephropathy and in a unilateral ureteral obstruction model. However, the role of endogenous Tβ4 in health and disease conditions remains unclear. To elucidate the pathophysiological role of endogenous Tβ4 in hypertension, we examined angiotensin-II (Ang-II)-induced renal and cardiac damage in Tβ4 knockout (Tβ4 KO) mice. Tβ4 KO and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were infused continuously for 6 weeks with either vehicle or Ang-II (980 ng/kg per minute). At baseline, Tβ4 deficiency did not affect renal and cardiac function. Systolic blood pressure in the Ang-II group was similar in wild-type and Tβ4 KO mice (wild-type Ang-II, 179.25±10.11 mm Hg; Tβ4 KO Ang-II, 169.81±6.54 mm Hg). Despite the similar systolic blood pressure after Ang-II infusion, Tβ4-deficient mice had dramatically increased albuminuria and decreased nephrin expression in the kidney (P<0.005). In the heart of Tβ4 KO mice, Ang-II reduced ejection fraction and shortening fraction (ejection fraction: wild-type Ang-II 77.95%±1.03%; Tβ4 KO Ang-II 62.58%±3.25%; P<0.005), which was accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dilatation. In addition, renal and cardiac infiltration of CD68 macrophages, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and total collagen content were increased after Ang-II infusion in Tβ4 KO mice (P<0.005). Overall, our data indicate that endogenous Tβ4 is crucial in preventing tissue injury from Ang-II-induced hypertension. This study gives new insights into the protective role of endogenous Tβ4 in hypertensive end-organ damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Kumar
- From the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine (N.K., T.-D.L., C.A.R., M.M., O.A.C.)
| | - Tang-Dong Liao
- From the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine (N.K., T.-D.L., C.A.R., M.M., O.A.C.)
| | - Cesar A Romero
- From the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine (N.K., T.-D.L., C.A.R., M.M., O.A.C.)
| | - Mani Maheshwari
- From the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine (N.K., T.-D.L., C.A.R., M.M., O.A.C.)
| | - Edward L Peterson
- and Department of Public Health Sciences (E.L.P.), Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
| | - Oscar A Carretero
- From the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine (N.K., T.-D.L., C.A.R., M.M., O.A.C.)
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Zhang Y, Yang F, Liu Y, Peng HB, Geng YC, Li SF, Xu H, Zhu LY, Yang XH, Brann D. Influence of the interaction between Ac‑SDKP and Ang II on the pathogenesis and development of silicotic fibrosis. Mol Med Rep 2018; 17:7467-7476. [PMID: 29620193 PMCID: PMC5983938 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a natural tetrapeptide that is released from thymosin β4 by prolyl oligopeptides. It is hydrolyzed by the key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in Ac-SDKP and the ACE/angiotensin II (Ang II)/angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor axis and its impact on the pathogenesis and development of silicotic fibrosis. For in vivo studies, a HOPE MED 8050 exposure control apparatus was used to establish different stages of silicosis in a rat model treated with Ac-SDKP. For in vitro studies, cultured primary lung fibroblasts were induced to differentiate into myofibroblasts by Ang II, and were pretreated with Ac-SDKP and valsartan. The results of the present study revealed that, during silicosis development, ACE/Ang II/AT1 expression in local lung tissues increased, whereas that of Ac-SDKP decreased. Ac-SDKP and the ACE/AT1/Ang II axis were inversely altered in the development of silicotic fibrosis. Ac-SDKP treatment had an anti-fibrotic effect in vivo. Compared with the silicosis group, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Collagen (Col) I, Fibronectin (Fn) and AT1 were significantly downregulated, whereas matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression and the MMP-1/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) ratio was increased in the Ac-SDKP treatment group. In vitro, pre-treatment with Ac-SDKP or valsartan attenuated the expression of α-SMA, Col I, Fn and AT1 in Ang II-induced fibroblasts. In addition, MMP-1 expression and the MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio were significantly higher in Ac-SDKP and valsartan pre-treatment groups compared with the Ang II group. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that an imbalance between Ac-SDKP and ACE/Ang II/AT1 molecules promotes the development of silicosis and that Ac-SDKP protects against silicotic fibrosis by inhibiting Ang II-induced myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Basic Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Fang Yang
- Medical Research Center, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- Basic Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Bing Peng
- Ji Tang College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Cong Geng
- Medical Research Center, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Feng Li
- Medical Research Center, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Hong Xu
- Medical Research Center, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Li-Yan Zhu
- Basic Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Xiu-Hong Yang
- Basic Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Darrell Brann
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Chan GC, Wu HJ, Chan KW, Yiu WH, Zou A, Huang XR, Lan HY, Lai KN, Tang SC. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline mediates the anti-fibrotic properties of captopril in unilateral ureteric obstructed BALB/C mice. Nephrology (Carlton) 2018; 23:297-307. [DOI: 10.1111/nep.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gary C.W. Chan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Hao Jia Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Kam Wa Chan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Wai Han Yiu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Ailis Zou
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Xiao Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences; The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Hui Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences; The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Kar Neng Lai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
| | - Sydney C.W. Tang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine; The University of Hong Kong
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Conte E, Fagone E, Gili E, Fruciano M, Iemmolo M, Pistorio MP, Impellizzeri D, Cordaro M, Cuzzocrea S, Vancheri C. Preventive and therapeutic effects of thymosin β4 N-terminal fragment Ac-SDKP in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis. Oncotarget 2017; 7:33841-54. [PMID: 27029074 PMCID: PMC5085123 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis was utilized to investigate putative anti-fibrotic activity of Ac-SDKP in vivo. Male CD-1 mice received intra-tracheal bleomycin (BLEO, 1 mg/kg) instillation in the absence or presence of Ac-SDKP (a dose of 0.6 mg/kg delivered intra-peritoneally on the day of BLEO treatment, d0, followed by bi-weekly additional doses). To evaluate therapeutic effects in a subset of mice, Ac-SDKP was administered one week after BLEO instillation (d7). Animals were sacrificed at one, two, or three weeks later. Measurement of fluid and collagen content in the lung, Broncho Alveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) analysis, lung histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular analysis were performed. Compared to BLEO-treated mice, animals that received also Ac-SDKP (at both d0 and d7) had significantly decreased mortality, weight loss, inflammation (edema, and leukocyte lung infiltration), lung damage (histological evidence of lung injury), and fibrosis (collagen histological staining and soluble collagen content in the lung) at up to 21 days. Moreover, IHC and quantitative RT-PCR results demonstrated a significant decrease in BLEO-induced IL-17 and TGF-β expression in lung tissue. Importantly, α-SMA expression, the hallmark of myofibroblast differentiation, was also decreased. This is the first report showing not only a preventive protective role of Ac-SDKP but also its significant therapeutic effects in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis, thus supporting further preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Conte
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Evelina Fagone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Gili
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Mary Fruciano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Iemmolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Impellizzeri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Marika Cordaro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Carlo Vancheri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
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O'Reilly PJ, Ding Q, Akthar S, Cai G, Genschmer KR, Patel DF, Jackson PL, Viera L, Roda M, Locy ML, Bernstein EA, Lloyd CM, Bernstein KE, Snelgrove RJ, Blalock JE. Angiotensin-converting enzyme defines matrikine-regulated inflammation and fibrosis. JCI Insight 2017; 2:91923. [PMID: 29202450 PMCID: PMC5752376 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.91923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neutrophil chemoattractant proline-glycine-proline (PGP) is generated from collagen by matrix metalloproteinase-8/9 (MMP-8/9) and prolyl endopeptidase (PE), and it is concomitantly degraded by extracellular leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) to limit neutrophilia. Components of cigarette smoke can acetylate PGP, yielding a species (AcPGP) that is resistant to LTA4H-mediated degradation and can, thus, support a sustained neutrophilia. In this study, we sought to elucidate if an antiinflammatory system existed to degrade AcPGP that is analogous to the PGP-LTA4H axis. We demonstrate that AcPGP is degraded through a previously unidentified action of the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Pulmonary ACE is elevated during episodes of acute inflammation, as a consequence of enhanced vascular permeability, to ensure the efficient degradation of AcPGP. Conversely, we suggest that this pathway is aberrant in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) enabling the accumulation of AcPGP. Consequently, we identify a potentially novel protective role for AcPGP in limiting pulmonary fibrosis and suggest the pathogenic function attributed to ACE in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to be a consequence of overzealous AcPGP degradation. Thus, AcPGP seemingly has very divergent roles: it is pathogenic in its capacity to drive neutrophilic inflammation and matrix degradation in the context of COPD, but it is protective in its capacity to limit fibrosis in IPF. ACE degrades the collagen-derived matrikine, acetylate proline–glycine–proline, to limit pulmonary inflammation and promote repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Qiang Ding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Samia Akthar
- Inflammation Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Guoqiang Cai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kristopher R Genschmer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Dhiren F Patel
- Inflammation Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia L Jackson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Birmingham V.A. Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Liliana Viera
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Mojtaba Roda
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Morgan L Locy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Ellen A Bernstein
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Clare M Lloyd
- Inflammation Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth E Bernstein
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robert J Snelgrove
- Inflammation Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - J Edwin Blalock
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Juillerat-Jeanneret L, Tafelmeyer P, Golshayan D. Fibroblast activation protein-α in fibrogenic disorders and cancer: more than a prolyl-specific peptidase? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:977-991. [DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1370455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucienne Juillerat-Jeanneret
- Transplantation Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- CHUV and UNIL, University Institute of Pathology, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Tafelmeyer
- Hybrigenics Services, Laboratories and Headquarters, Paris, France
- Hybrigenics Corporation, Cambridge Innovation Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dela Golshayan
- Transplantation Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Vliegen G, Raju TK, Adriaensen D, Lambeir AM, De Meester I. The expression of proline-specific enzymes in the human lung. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017; 5:130. [PMID: 28462210 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2017.03.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of lung diseases is very complex and proteolytic enzymes may play a role or could be used as biomarkers. In this review, the literature was searched to make an overview of what is known on the expression of the proline-specific peptidases dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 4, 8, 9, prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) and fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) in the healthy and diseased lung. Search terms included asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, fibrosis, ischemia reperfusion injury and pneumonia. Knowledge on the loss or gain of protein expression and activity during disease might tie these enzymes to certain cell types, substrates or interaction partners that are involved in the pathophysiology of the disease, ultimately leading to the elucidation of their functional roles and a potential therapeutic target. Most data could be found on DPP4, while the other enzymes are less explored. Published data however often appear to be conflicting, the applied methods divers and the specificity of the assays used questionable. In conclusion, information on the expression of the proline-specific peptidases in the healthy and diseased lung is lacking, begging for further well-designed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn Vliegen
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Tom K Raju
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Dirk Adriaensen
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anne-Marie Lambeir
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Ingrid De Meester
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Zhou D, Wang J, He LN, Li BH, Ding YN, Chen YW, Fan JG. Prolyl oligopeptidase attenuates hepatic stellate cell activation through induction of Smad7 and PPAR-γ. Exp Ther Med 2017; 13:780-786. [PMID: 28352366 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a serine endopeptidase widely distributed in vivo with high activity in the liver. However, its biological functions in the liver have remained largely elusive. A previous study by our group has shown that POP produced N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) and thereby exerted an anti-fibrogenic effect on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. It was therefore hypothesized that POP may affect the activation state of HSCs and has an important role in liver fibrosis. The HSC-T6 immortalized rat liver stellate cell line was treated with the POP inhibitor S17092 or transfected with recombinant lentivirus to overexpress POP. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The activation status of HSCs was determined by examination of the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-Smad signaling and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Inhibition by S17092 decreased, whereas lentiviral expression increased the activity of POP and cell proliferation, while neither of the treatments affected cell apoptosis. Of note, S17092 significantly increased, whereas POP overexpression decreased the expression of α-SMA and MCP-1 without affecting the expression of collagen I and TGF-β1. Furthermore, S17092 caused a reduction, whereas POP overexpression caused an upregulation of Smad7 protein and PPAR-γ, but not phosphorylated-Smad2/3 expression. In conclusion, POP attenuated the activation of HSCs through inhibition of TGF-β signaling and induction of PPAR-γ, which may have therapeutic potential in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Ling-Nan He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Bing-Hang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Nian Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830028, P.R. China
| | - Yuan-Wen Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Gao Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
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Loss of endogenous thymosin β 4 accelerates glomerular disease. Kidney Int 2016; 90:1056-1070. [PMID: 27575556 PMCID: PMC5073078 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2016.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Glomerular disease is characterized by morphologic changes in podocyte cells accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis. Thymosin β4 regulates cell morphology, inflammation, and fibrosis in several organs and administration of exogenous thymosin β4 improves animal models of unilateral ureteral obstruction and diabetic nephropathy. However, the role of endogenous thymosin β4 in the kidney is unknown. We demonstrate that thymosin β4 is expressed prominently in podocytes of developing and adult mouse glomeruli. Global loss of thymosin β4 did not affect healthy glomeruli, but accelerated the severity of immune-mediated nephrotoxic nephritis with worse renal function, periglomerular inflammation, and fibrosis. Lack of thymosin β4 in nephrotoxic nephritis led to the redistribution of podocytes from the glomerular tuft toward the Bowman capsule suggesting a role for thymosin β4 in the migration of these cells. Thymosin β4 knockdown in cultured podocytes also increased migration in a wound-healing assay, accompanied by F-actin rearrangement and increased RhoA activity. We propose that endogenous thymosin β4 is a modifier of glomerular injury, likely having a protective role acting as a brake to slow disease progression.
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Zhang C, Wang Y, Fang Q, Xu M, Lv M, Liao J, Li S, Nie Z, Zhang W. Thymosin From Bombyx mori Is Down-Regulated in Expression by BmNPV Exhibiting Antiviral Activity. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2016; 16:75. [PMID: 27432352 PMCID: PMC4948601 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iew039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Thymosins have been highly conserved during evolution. These hormones exist in many animal species and play an essential role in many biological events. However, little is known regarding the physiological function of silkworm Bombyx mori thymosin (BmTHY). In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of BmTHY in a Bombyx mori larval ovarian cell line (BmN) challenged with Bombyx mori nuclear polyhydrosis virus (BmNPV) and the antiviral effect of recombinant BmTHY (rBmTHY) for Bombyx mori against BmNPV. Western-blot assay and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the level of BmTHY protein expression and transcription decreased over time when BmN cells were infected by BmNPV. Treatment with endotoxin-free rBmTHY led to a significant reduction in viral titer in the supernatant of BmN cells challenged with BmNPV. The results from antiviral tests performed in vitro and in vivo showed that endotoxin-free rBmTHY improved the survival rate of Bombyx mori infected with BmNPV. These findings suggest that BmTHY exerts immunomodulatory effects on Bombyx mori, rendering them resistant to viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Yongdi Wang
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Qiang Fang
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Minlin Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mengyuan Lv
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Jinxu Liao
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Si Li
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; )
| | - Zuoming Nie
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; ) Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Wenping Zhang
- College of Life Science, Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China (; ; ; ; ; ; wuxinzm@126. com; ) Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310018, China
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis, a major characteristic of chronic liver disease, is inappropriate tissue remodeling caused by prolonged parenchymal cell injury and inflammation. During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) undergo transdifferentiation from quiescent HSCs into activated HSCs, which promote the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, leading to liver fibrosis. Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4), a major actin-sequestering protein, is the most abundant member of the highly conserved β-thymosin family and controls cell morphogenesis and motility by regulating the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. Tβ4 is known to be involved in various cellular responses, including antiinflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. Emerging evidence suggests that Tβ4 is expressed in the liver; however, its biological roles are poorly understood. Herein, we introduce liver fibrogenesis and recent findings regarding the function of Tβ4 in various tissues and discuss the potential role of Tβ4 in liver fibrosis with a special focus on the effects of exogenous and endogenous Tβ4. Recent studies have revealed that activated HSCs express Tβ4 in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with the exogenous Tβ4 peptide inhibits the proliferation and migration of activated HSCs and reduces liver fibrosis, indicating it has an antifibrotic action. Meanwhile, the endogenously expressed Tβ4 in activated HSCs is shown to promote HSCs activation. Although the role of Tβ4 has not been elucidated, it is apparent that Tβ4 is associated with HSC activation. Therefore, understanding the potential roles and regulatory mechanisms of Tβ4 in liver fibrosis may provide a novel treatment for patients.
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Kumar N, Nakagawa P, Janic B, Romero CA, Worou ME, Monu SR, Peterson EL, Shaw J, Valeriote F, Ongeri EM, Niyitegeka JMV, Rhaleb NE, Carretero OA. The anti-inflammatory peptide Ac-SDKP is released from thymosin-β4 by renal meprin-α and prolyl oligopeptidase. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2016; 310:F1026-34. [PMID: 26962108 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00562.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a natural tetrapeptide with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties. Previously, we have shown that prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is involved in the Ac-SDKP release from thymosin-β4 (Tβ4). However, POP can only hydrolyze peptides shorter than 30 amino acids, and Tβ4 is 43 amino acids long. This indicates that before POP hydrolysis takes place, Tβ4 is hydrolyzed by another peptidase that releases NH2-terminal intermediate peptide(s) with fewer than 30 amino acids. Our peptidase database search pointed out meprin-α metalloprotease as a potential candidate. Therefore, we hypothesized that, prior to POP hydrolysis, Tβ4 is hydrolyzed by meprin-α. In vitro, we found that the incubation of Tβ4 with both meprin-α and POP released Ac-SDKP, whereas no Ac-SDKP was released when Tβ4 was incubated with either meprin-α or POP alone. Incubation of Tβ4 with rat kidney homogenates significantly released Ac-SDKP, which was blocked by the meprin-α inhibitor actinonin. In addition, kidneys from meprin-α knockout (KO) mice showed significantly lower basal Ac-SDKP amount, compared with wild-type mice. Kidney homogenates from meprin-α KO mice failed to release Ac-SDKP from Tβ4. In vivo, we observed that rats treated with the ACE inhibitor captopril increased plasma concentrations of Ac-SDKP, which was inhibited by the coadministration of actinonin (vehicle, 3.1 ± 0.2 nmol/l; captopril, 15.1 ± 0.7 nmol/l; captopril + actinonin, 6.1 ± 0.3 nmol/l; P < 0.005). Similar results were obtained with urinary Ac-SDKP after actinonin treatment. We conclude that release of Ac-SDKP from Tβ4 is mediated by successive hydrolysis involving meprin-α and POP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Kumar
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Pablo Nakagawa
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Branislava Janic
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Cesar A Romero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Morel E Worou
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sumit R Monu
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Edward L Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jiajiu Shaw
- 21st Century Therapeutics, Inc., Detroit, Michigan
| | - Frederick Valeriote
- Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan; and
| | - Elimelda M Ongeri
- Department of Biology, North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | | | - Nour-Eddine Rhaleb
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Oscar A Carretero
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan;
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Mnguni AT, Engel ME, Borkum MS, Mayosi BM. The Effects of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-I) on Human N-Acetyl-Seryl-Aspartyl-Lysyl-Proline (Ac-SDKP) Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143338. [PMID: 26656271 PMCID: PMC4686106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculous pericardial effusion is a pro-fibrotic condition that is complicated by constrictive pericarditis in 4% to 8% of cases. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a ubiquitous tetrapeptide with anti-fibrotic properties that is low in tuberculous pericardial effusion, thus providing a potential mechanism for the heightened fibrotic state. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), which increase Ac-SDKP levels with anti-fibrotic effects in animal models, are candidate drugs for preventing constrictive pericarditis if they can be shown to have similar effects on Ac-SDKP and fibrosis in human tissues. Objective To systematically review the effects of ACE-Is on Ac-SDKP levels in human tissues. Methods We searched five electronic databases (1996 to 2014) and conference abstracts with no language restrictions. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Results Four studies with a total of 206 participants met the inclusion criteria. Three studies (106 participants) assessed the change in plasma levels of Ac-SDKP following ACE-I administration in healthy humans. The administration of an ACE-I was associated with an increase in Ac-SDKP levels (mean difference (MD) 5.07 pmol/ml (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.64 pmol/ml to 9.51 pmol/ml)). Two studies with 100 participants further assessed the change in Ac-SDKP level in humans with renal failure using ACE-I. The administration of an ACE-I was associated with a significant increase in Ac-SDKP levels (MD 8.94 pmol/ml; 95% CI 2.55 to 15.33; I2 = 44%). Conclusion ACE-I increased Ac-SDKP levels in human plasma. These findings provide the rationale for testing the impact of ACE-I on Ac-SDKP levels and fibrosis in tuberculous pericarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayanda Trevor Mnguni
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- * E-mail: (ATM); (MEE)
| | - Mark E. Engel
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- * E-mail: (ATM); (MEE)
| | - Megan S. Borkum
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Bongani M. Mayosi
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Worou ME, Liao TD, D'Ambrosio M, Nakagawa P, Janic B, Peterson EL, Rhaleb NE, Carretero OA. Renal protective effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline in dahl salt-sensitive rats. Hypertension 2015; 66:816-22. [PMID: 26324505 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.115.05970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a natural tetrapeptide with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties. Its effect on salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension is unknown. We hypothesized that in Dahl SS rats on high-salt (HS) diet, Ac-SDKP prevents loss of nephrin expression and renal immune cell infiltration, leading to a decrease in albuminuria, renal inflammation, fibrosis, and glomerulosclerosis. To test this, Dahl SS rats and consomic SS13BN controls were fed either a low-salt (0.23% NaCl) or HS (4% NaCl) diet and treated for 6 weeks with vehicle or Ac-SDKP at either low or high dose (800 or 1600 μg/kg per day, respectively). HS increased systolic blood pressure in SS rats (HS+vehicle, 186±5 versus low salt+vehicle, 141±3 mm Hg; P<0.005) but not in SS13BN rats. Ac-SDKP did not affect blood pressure. Compared with low salt, HS-induced albuminuria, renal inflammation, fibrosis, and glomerulosclerosis in both strains, but the damages were higher in SS than in SS13BN. Interestingly, in SS13BN rats, Ac-SDKP prevented albuminuria induced by HS (HS+vehicle, 44±8 versus HS+low Ac-SDKP, 24±3 or HS+high Ac-SDKP, 8±1 mg/24 h; P<0.05), whereas in SS rats, only high Ac-SDKP dose significantly attenuated albuminuria (HS+vehicle, 94±10 versus HS+high Ac-SDKP, 57±7 mg/24 h; P<0.05). In both strains, Ac-SDKP prevented HS-induced inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and glomerulosclerosis. In summary, in SS rats on HS diet, at low and high doses, Ac-SDKP prevented renal damage without affecting the blood pressure. Only the high dose of Ac-SDKP attenuated HS-induced albuminuria. Conversely, in SS13BN rats, both doses of Ac-SDKP prevented HS-induced renal damage and albuminuria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morel E Worou
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Division, Departments of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
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Ma S, Kang Z, Lü P, Yang Y, Yao Q, Xia H, Chen K. Molecular and Physiological Characterization of Two Novel Multirepeat β-Thymosins from Silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140182. [PMID: 26474303 PMCID: PMC4608725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
β-thymosin plays important roles in the development of the lymphatic system and the central nervous system in vertebrates. However, its role and function in invertebrates remain much less explored. Here, we firstly isolated a gene encoding β-thymosin in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). Interestingly, this gene encodes two polypeptides, named as BmTHY1 and BmTHY2, via two different modes of RNA splicing. The recombinant proteins fused with an N-term GST tag were over-expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and further purified to near homogenity to prepare mouse antibodies. The Western blot analysis showed that these proteins were expressed in various tissues and organs, as well as in different developmental stages. Amazingly, the expression of BmTHY2 was hugely increased during the pupae stage, indicating a specialized role in this period. The expression of these proteins was gradually decreased in BmN cells infected by BmNPV, suggesting they may play different roles in the virus infection. In addition, both BmTHY1 and BmTHY2 can interact with 14-3-3 of silkworm and Ubiquitin of BmNPV as shown by GST pull down and Co-IP assays, consistent with their roles in the regulation of the development of nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangshang Ma
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqiong Kang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Peng Lü
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yanhua Yang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Qin Yao
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Hengchuan Xia
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (KPC); (HCX)
| | - Keping Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (KPC); (HCX)
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Tenorio-Laranga J, Montoliu C, Urios A, Hernandez-Rabaza V, Ahabrach H, García-Horsman JA, Felipo V. The expression levels of prolyl oligopeptidase responds not only to neuroinflammation but also to systemic inflammation upon liver failure in rat models and cirrhotic patients. J Neuroinflammation 2015; 12:183. [PMID: 26420028 PMCID: PMC4589196 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0404-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Liver failure in experimental animals or in human cirrhosis elicits neuroinflammation. Prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) has been implicated in neuroinflammatory events in neurodegenerative diseases: PREP protein levels are increased in brain glial cells upon neuroinflammatory insults, but the circulating PREP activity levels are decreased in multiple sclerosis patients in a process probably mediated by bioactive peptides. In this work, we studied the variation of PREP levels upon liver failure and correlated it with several inflammatory markers to conclude on the relation of PREP with systemic and/or neuroinflammation. Methods PREP enzymatic activity and protein levels measured with immunological techniques were determined in the brain and plasma of rats with portacaval shunt (PCS) and after treatment with ibuprofen. Those results were compared with the levels of PREP measured in plasma from cirrhotic patients with or without minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and those of NO/cGMP homeostasis metabolites were measured in PCS rats and cirrhotic patients to conclude on the role of PREP in inflammation. Results In PCA rats, we found that PREP levels are significantly increased in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum, that in the cerebellum the PREP increase was significantly found in the extracellular space and that the levels were restored to those measured in control rats after administration of an anti-inflammatory agent, ibuprofen. In cirrhotic patients, circulatory PREP activity was found to correlate to systemic and neuroinflammatory markers and had a negative correlation with the severity of the disease, although no clear relation to MHE. Conclusions These results support the idea that PREP levels could be used as indicators of cirrhosis severity in humans, and using other markers, it might contribute to assessing the level of neuroinflammation in those patients. This work reports, for the first time, that PREP is secreted to the extracellular space in the cerebellum most probably due to glial activation and supports the role of the peptidase in the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jofre Tenorio-Laranga
- Real-time Imaging Laboratory, Divisions of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5E, PO Box 56, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Amparo Urios
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicente Hernandez-Rabaza
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Avd.Autopista del Saler 16, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Hanan Ahabrach
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Avd.Autopista del Saler 16, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
| | - J Arturo García-Horsman
- Real-time Imaging Laboratory, Divisions of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5E, PO Box 56, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
| | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Avd.Autopista del Saler 16, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
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Jackson KW, Christiansen VJ, Yadav VR, Silasi-Mansat R, Lupu F, Awasthi V, Zhang RR, McKee PA. Suppression of tumor growth in mice by rationally designed pseudopeptide inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein and prolyl oligopeptidase. Neoplasia 2015; 17:43-54. [PMID: 25622898 PMCID: PMC4309729 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) are composed of cancer cells, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, microvessels, and endothelial cells. Two prolyl endopeptidases, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), are commonly overexpressed by epithelial-derived malignancies, with the specificity of FAP expression by cancer stromal fibroblasts suggesting FAP as a possible therapeutic target. Despite overexpression in most cancers and having a role in angiogenesis, inhibition of POP activity has received little attention as an approach to quench tumor growth. We developed two specific and highly effective pseudopeptide inhibitors, M83, which inhibits FAP and POP proteinase activities, and J94, which inhibits only POP. Both suppressed human colon cancer xenograft growth > 90% in mice. By immunohistochemical stains, M83- and J94-treated tumors had fewer microvessels, and apoptotic areas were apparent in both. In response to M83, but not J94, disordered collagen accumulations were observed. Neither M83- nor J94-treated mice manifested changes in behavior, weight, or gastrointestinal function. Tumor growth suppression was more extensive than noted with recently reported efforts by others to inhibit FAP proteinase function or reduce FAP expression. Diminished angiogenesis and the accompanying profound reduction in tumor growth suggest that inhibition of either FAP or POP may offer new therapeutic approaches that directly target TMEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth W Jackson
- William K. Warren Medical Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Victoria J Christiansen
- William K. Warren Medical Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Vivek R Yadav
- College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Robert Silasi-Mansat
- Cardiovascular Biology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Florea Lupu
- Cardiovascular Biology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Vibhudutta Awasthi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Roy R Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Patrick A McKee
- William K. Warren Medical Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Waumans Y, Baerts L, Kehoe K, Lambeir AM, De Meester I. The Dipeptidyl Peptidase Family, Prolyl Oligopeptidase, and Prolyl Carboxypeptidase in the Immune System and Inflammatory Disease, Including Atherosclerosis. Front Immunol 2015; 6:387. [PMID: 26300881 PMCID: PMC4528296 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Research from over the past 20 years has implicated dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV and its family members in many processes and different pathologies of the immune system. Most research has been focused on either DPPIV or just a few of its family members. It is, however, essential to consider the entire DPP family when discussing any one of its members. There is a substantial overlap between family members in their substrate specificity, inhibitors, and functions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion on the role of prolyl-specific peptidases DPPIV, FAP, DPP8, DPP9, dipeptidyl peptidase II, prolyl carboxypeptidase, and prolyl oligopeptidase in the immune system and its diseases. We highlight possible therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, a condition that lies at the frontier between inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Waumans
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Lesley Baerts
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Kaat Kehoe
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Anne-Marie Lambeir
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Ingrid De Meester
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
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Cabras T, Iavarone F, Martelli C, Delfino D, Rossetti DV, Inserra I, Manconi B, Desiderio C, Messana I, Hannappel E, Faa G, Castagnola M. High-resolution mass spectrometry for thymosins detection and characterization. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 15 Suppl 1:S191-201. [PMID: 26095945 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1009887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterize β and α thymosins and their proteoforms in various tissues and bodily fluids by mass spectrometry and to look at their association with a wide variety of pathologies. METHODS A top-down proteomic platform based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to high-resolution LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) was applied to the characterization of naturally occurring peptides. RESULTS In addition to thymosin β4 (Tβ4) and β10 (Tβ10), several post-translational modifications of both these peptides were identified not only in bodily fluids but also in normal and pathological tissues of different origins. The analysis of tissue specimens allowed the characterization of different C-terminal truncated forms of Tβ4 and Tβ10 together with other proteolytic fragments. The sulfoxide derivative of both Tβ4 and Tβ10 and the acetylated derivatives at lysine residues of Tβ4 were also characterized. Different proteoforms of prothymosin α, parathymosin α, thymosin α1 and thymosin α11 together with diverse proteolytic fragments were identified too. CONCLUSION The clinical and prognostic significance and the origin of these proteoforms have to be deeply investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Cabras
- Università di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente , Cagliari , Italy
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