Androgen- and estrogen-dependent regulation of insulin-degrading enzyme in subcellular fractions of rat prostate and uterus

Insulin-Degrading Enzyme, an Under-Estimated Potential Target to Treat Cancer?

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a multifunctional protease due to the variety of its substrates, its various cellular locations, its conservation between species and its many non-proteolytic functions. Numerous studies have successfully demonstrated its implication in two main therapeutic areas: metabolic and neuronal diseases. In recent years, several reports have underlined the overexpression of this enzyme in different cancers. Still, the exact role of IDE in the physiopathology of cancer remains to be elucidated. Known as the main enzyme responsible for the degradation of insulin, an essential growth factor for healthy cells and cancer cells, IDE has also been shown to behave like a chaperone and interact with the proteasome. The pharmacological modulation of IDE (siRNA, chemical compounds, etc.) has demonstrated interesting results in cancer models. All these results point towards IDE as a potential target in cancer. In this review, we will discuss evidence of links between IDE and cancer development or resistance, IDE's functions, catalytic or non-catalytic, in the context of cell proliferation, cancer development and the impact of the pharmacomodulation of IDE via cancer therapeutics.

Supraphysiologic-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid use: A risk factor for dementia?

Supraphysiologic-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with physiologic, cognitive, and brain abnormalities similar to those found in people at risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease and its related dementias (AD/ADRD), which are associated with high brain β-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (tau-P) protein levels. Supraphysiologic-dose AAS induces androgen abnormalities and excess oxidative stress, which have been linked to increased and decreased expression or activity of proteins that synthesize and eliminate, respectively, Aβ and tau-P. Aβ and tau-P accumulation may begin soon after initiating supraphysiologic-dose AAS use, which typically occurs in the early 20s, and their accumulation may be accelerated by other psychoactive substance use, which is common among non-medical AAS users. Accordingly, the widespread use of supraphysiologic-dose AAS may increase the numbers of people who develop dementia. Early diagnosis and correction of sex-steroid level abnormalities and excess oxidative stress could attenuate risk for developing AD/ADRD in supraphysiologic-dose AAS users, in people with other substance use disorders, and in people with low sex-steroid levels or excess oxidative stress associated with aging.

Sex Differences in Autophagy Contribute to Female Vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, with over 5. 4 million cases in the US alone (Alzheimer's Association, 2016). Clinically, AD is defined by the presence of plaques composed of Aβ and neurofibrillary pathology composed of the microtubule associated protein tau. Another key feature is the dysregulation of autophagy at key steps in the pathway. In AD, disrupted autophagy contributes to disease progression through the failure to clear pathological protein aggregates, insulin resistance, and its role in the synthesis of Aβ. Like many psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, the risk of developing AD, and disease course are dependent on the sex of the patient. One potential mechanism through which these differences occur, is the effects of sex hormones on autophagy. In women, the loss of hormones with menopause presents both a risk factor for developing AD, and an obvious example of where sex differences in AD can stem from. However, because AD pathology can begin decades before menopause, this does not provide the full answer. We propose that sex-based differences in autophagy regulation during the lifespan contribute to the increased risk of AD, and greater severity of pathology seen in women.

Early Evidence of Low Bone Density and Decreased Serotonergic Synthesis in the Dorsal Raphe of a Tauopathy Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and its clinical sequelae, osteoporosis, occur at a much greater rate in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), often emerging early in the disease before significant cognitive decline is seen. Reduced BMD translates to increased bone fracture risk, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality for AD patients. However, the mechanism responsible for this observation is unclear. We hypothesize that bone loss is an additional component of an AD prodrome-changes that emerge prior to dementia and are mediated by dysfunction of the central serotonergic pathways. We characterized the skeletal phenotype of htau mice that express human forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau that become pathologically hyperphosphorylated in AD. Using radiographic densitometry, we measured BMD in female and male htau mice from 2–6 months of age–time-points prior to the presence of significant tauopathy in the hippocampal/entorhinal regions characteristic of this model. We found a significantly reduced BMD phenotype in htau mice that was most pronounced in males. Using western blotting and immunofluorescence, we showed overall reduced tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) protein in htau brainstem and a 70% reduction in TPH-positive cells in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN)–a pivotal structure in the regulation of the adult skeleton. Elevations of hyperphosphorylated tau (ptau) proteins were also measured in brainstem, and co-labeled immunofluorescence studies showed presence of ptau in TPH-positive cells of the DRN as early as 4 months of age in htau mice. Together, these findings demonstrate that reduced BMD occurs earlier than overt degeneration in a tau-based AD model and that pathological changes in tau phosphorylation occur in the serotonin-producing neurons of the brainstem raphe in these mice. This illuminates a need to define a mechanistic relationship between bone loss and serotonergic deficits in early AD.

II - Insulin processing in mitochondria

Our objective was to know how insulin is processing in mitochondria; if IDE is the only participant in mitochondrial insulin degradation and the role of insulin degradation on IDE accumulation in mitoplasts. Mitochondria and its fractions were isolated as described by Greenwalt. IDE was purified and detected in immunoblot with specific antibodies. High insulin degradation was obtained through addition to rat's diet of 25 g/rat of apple and 10 g/rat of hard-boiled eggs, 3 days a week. Mitochondrial insulin degradation was assayed with 5 % TCA, insulin antibody or Sephadex G50 chromatography. Degradation was also assayed 60 min at 37 °C in mitochondrial fractions (IMS and Mx) with diet or not and without IDE. Degradation in fractions precipitated with ammonium sulfates (60-80 %) were studied after mitochondrial insulin incubation (1 ng. insulin during 15 min, at 30 °C) or with addition of 2.5 mM ATP. Supplementary diet increased insulin degradation. High insulin did not increase mitoplasts accumulation and did not decrease mitochondrial degradation. High insulin and inhibition of degradation evidence insulin competition for a putative transport system. Mitochondrial incubation with insulin increased IDE in matrix as observed in immunoblot. ATP decreased degradation in Mx and increased it in IMS. Chromatography of IMS demonstrated an ATP-dependent protease that degraded insulin, similar to described by Sitte et al. Mitochondria participate in insulin degradation and the diet increased it. High insulin did not accomplish mitochondrial decrease of degradation or its accumulation in mitoplasts. Mitochondrial incubation with insulin increased IDE in matrix. ATP suggested being a regulator of mitochondrial insulin degradation.

Molecular characterization of insulin resistance and glycolytic metabolism in the rat uterus

Peripheral insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism are the primary features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, how insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism affect uterine function and contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS are open questions. We treated rats with insulin alone or in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and showed that peripheral insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism alter uterine morphology, cell phenotype, and cell function, especially in glandular epithelial cells. These defects are associated with an aberration in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway that is used as an indicator for the onset of insulin resistance in classical metabolic tissues. Concomitantly, increased GSK3β (Ser-9) phosphorylation and decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in rats treated with insulin and hCG were also observed. We also profiled the expression of glucose transporter (Glut) isoform genes in the uterus under conditions of insulin resistance and/or hyperandrogenism. Finally, we determined the expression pattern of glycolytic enzymes and intermediates during insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in the uterus. These findings suggest that the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways play a role in the onset of uterine insulin resistance, and they also suggest that changes in specific Glut isoform expression and alterations to glycolytic metabolism contribute to the endometrial dysfunction observed in PCOS patients.

Peroxisomes in brain development and function

Peroxisomes contain numerous enzymatic activities that are important for mammalian physiology. Patients lacking either all peroxisomal functions or a single enzyme or transporter function typically develop severe neurological deficits, which originate from aberrant development of the brain, demyelination and loss of axonal integrity, neuroinflammation or other neurodegenerative processes. Whilst correlating peroxisomal properties with a compilation of pathologies observed in human patients and mouse models lacking all or individual peroxisomal functions, we discuss the importance of peroxisomal metabolites and tissue- and cell type-specific contributions to the observed brain pathologies. This enables us to deconstruct the local and systemic contribution of individual metabolic pathways to specific brain functions. We also review the recently discovered variability of pathological symptoms in cases with unexpectedly mild presentation of peroxisome biogenesis disorders. Finally, we explore the emerging evidence linking peroxisomes to more common neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Peroxisomes edited by Ralf Erdmann.

I - insulin transfer to mitochondria

The aim of this study was to determine if insulin is transferred to mitoplasts by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE).Hepatic mitochondria were isolated and controlled by electron microscopy. IDE was obtained from rats muscle by successive chromatography steps. Insulin accumulation in mitoplasts and outer membrane + intermembrane space (OM + IMS) was studied with (125)I-insulin. Mitochondrial insulin accumulation and degradation was assayed with Sephadex G50 chromatography, insulin antibody and 5 % TCA. Mitoplasts and OM + IMS were isolated with digitonin. Insulin accumulation was studied at 25 °C at different times, without or with IDE, Bacitracin, 2,4-dinitrophenol, apyrase or sodium succinate + adenosine diphosphate. Insulin accumulation in mitoplasts and OM + IMS after mitochondrial cross-linking was studied with electrophoresis in SDS-PAGE, immunoblots of IDE, insulin or TIM23 (inner mitochondrial transporter) and autoradiography.The studies showed that addition of IDE increased insulin transfer from OM + IMS to mitoplasts, and the insulin accumulation in mitoplast was IDE dependent. Bacitracin and 2,4-dinitrophenol decreased this transfer. The [Insulin-IDE] complex and [Mitoplasts] was studied as a bimolecular reaction following a second order reaction. The constant "k" (liter.mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) showed that IDE increased and Bacitracin or 2,4-dinitrophenol decreased the velocity of insulin transfer. SDS-PAGE and immunoblots studies showed bands and radioactivity coincident with IDE, insulin and TIM23. Non degraded insulin was demonstrated in immunoblot after IDE immunoprecipitation from mitoplasts. Confocal studies showed mitochondrial colocalization of IDE and insulin.The results showed that insulin at 25 °C were transferred from OM + IMS to mitoplasts by IDE or that the enzyme facilitates this transfer, and they reach the matrix together.

Nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators and selective estrogen receptor β agonists moderate cognitive deficits and amyloid-β levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Decreases of the sex steroids, testosterone and estrogen, are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Testosterone and estrogen supplementation improves cognitive deficits in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Sex hormones play a role in the regulation of amyloid-β via induction of the amyloid-β degrading enzymes neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme. To mimic the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), we administered a selective androgen receptor agonist, ACP-105, alone and in combination with the selective estrogen receptor β (ERβ) agonist AC-186 to male gonadectomized triple transgenic mice. We assessed long-term spatial memory in the Morris water maze, spontaneous locomotion, and anxiety-like behavior in the open field and in the elevated plus maze. We found that ACP-105 given alone decreases anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, when ACP-105 is administered in combination with AC-186, they increase the amyloid-β degrading enzymes neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme and decrease amyloid-β levels in the brain as well as improve cognition. Interestingly, the androgen receptor level in the brain was increased by chronic treatment with the same combination treatment, ACP-105 and AC-186, not seen with DHT or ACP-105 alone. Based on these results, the beneficial effect of the selective ERβ agonist as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease warrants further investigation.

Deletion of the fission yeast homologue of human insulinase reveals a TORC1-dependent pathway mediating resistance to proteotoxic stress

Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE) is a protease conserved through evolution with a role in diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The reason underlying its ubiquitous expression including cells lacking identified IDE substrates remains unknown. Here we show that the fission yeast IDE homologue (Iph1) modulates cellular sensitivity to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a manner dependent on TORC1 (Target of Rapamycin Complex 1). Reduced sensitivity to tunicamycin was associated with a smaller number of cells undergoing apoptosis. Wild type levels of tunicamycin sensitivity were restored in iph1 null cells when the TORC1 complex was inhibited by rapamycin or by heat inactivation of the Tor2 kinase. Although Iph1 cleaved hallmark IDE substrates including insulin efficiently, its role in the ER stress response was independent of its catalytic activity since expression of inactive Iph1 restored normal sensitivity. Importantly, wild type as well as inactive human IDE complemented gene-invalidated yeast cells when expressed at the genomic locus under the control of iph1⁺ promoter. These results suggest that IDE has a previously unknown function unrelated to substrate cleavage, which links sensitivity to ER stress to a pro-survival role of the TORC1 pathway.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE): a novel heat shock-like protein

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a highly conserved zinc metallopeptidase that is ubiquitously distributed in human tissues, and particularly abundant in the brain, liver, and muscles. IDE activity has been historically associated with insulin and β-amyloid catabolism. However, over the last decade, several experimental findings have established that IDE is also involved in a wide variety of physiopathological processes, including ubiquitin clearance and Varicella Zoster Virus infection. In this study, we demonstrate that normal and malignant cells exposed to different stresses markedly up-regulate IDE in a heat shock protein (HSP)-like fashion. Additionally, we focused our attention on tumor cells and report that (i) IDE is overexpressed in vivo in tumors of the central nervous system (CNS); (ii) IDE-silencing inhibits neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cell proliferation and triggers cell death; (iii) IDE inhibition is accompanied by a decrease of the poly-ubiquitinated protein content and co-immunoprecipitates with proteasome and ubiquitin in SHSY5Y cells. In this work, we propose a novel role for IDE as a heat shock protein with implications in cell growth regulation and cancer progression, thus opening up an intriguing hypothesis of IDE as an anticancer target.

17β-estradiol and progesterone regulate expression of β-amyloid clearance factors in primary neuron cultures and female rat brain

The accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is a key risk factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The ovarian sex steroid hormones 17β-estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) have been shown to regulate Aβ accumulation, although the underlying mechanism(s) remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigate the effects of E(2) and P(4) treatment on the expression levels of Aβ clearance factors including insulin-degrading enzyme, neprilysin, endothelin-converting enzyme 1 and 2, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and transthyretin, both in primary neuron cultures and female rat brains. Our results show that E(2) and P(4) affect the expression levels of several Aβ clearance factors in dose- and time-dependent manners. Most notably, expression of insulin-degrading enzyme is significantly increased by both hormones in cultured neurons and in vivo and is inversely associated with the soluble Aβ levels in vivo. These findings further define sex steroid hormone actions involved in regulation of Aβ, a relationship potentially important to therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing risk of Alzheimer's disease.

17β-Estradiol regulates insulin-degrading enzyme expression via an ERβ/PI3-K pathway in hippocampus: relevance to Alzheimer's prevention

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), an enzyme that primarily degrades insulin, has recently been demonstrated to play a significant role in the catabolism of amyloid β (Aβ) protein in the brain. Reduced IDE expression and/or activity have been associated with the etiology and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using three model systems, the present investigation provides the first documentation indicating that estrogen robustly regulates the expression of IDE in normal, menopausal and early-stage AD brains. In vitro analyses in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons revealed that 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) increased IDE in both mRNA and protein levels in a time-dependent manner. Further pharmacological analyses indicated that 17β-E2-induced IDE expression was dependent upon estrogen receptor (ER) β and required activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). In vivo analyses in adult female rats revealed a brain region-specific responsive profile. Ovariectomy (OVX) induced a significant decline in IDE expression in the hippocampus, which was prevented by 17β-E2. Neither OVX nor 17β-E2 affected IDE expression in the cerebellum. In vivo analyses in triple transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) female mice revealed an inverse correlation between the age-related increase in Aβ load and the decrease in IDE expression in the hippocampal formation. Treatment with 17β-E2 attenuated Aβ accumulation/plaque formation and elevated hippocampal IDE expression in 12-month-old 3xTg-AD OVX mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that 17β-E2 regulates IDE expression in a brain region-specific manner and such a regulatory role in the hippocampus, mediated by an ERβ/PI3-K pathway, could serve as a direct mechanism underlying estrogen-mediated preventative effect against AD when initiated at the onset of menopause.

Effect of dexamethasone and testosterone treatment on the regulation of insulin-degrading enzyme and cellular changes in ventral rat prostate after castration

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) has been shown to enhance the binding of androgen and glucocorticoid receptors to DNA in the nuclear compartment. Glucocorticoids cause hyperglycaemia, peripheral resistance to insulin and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dexamethasone (D), testosterone (T) and dexamethasone plus testosterone (D + T) on the regulation of IDE and on the remodelling of rat ventral prostate after castration (C). Castration led to a marked reduction in prostate weight (PW). Body weight was significantly decreased in the castrated animals treated with dexamethasone, and the relative PW was 2.6-fold (±0.2) higher in the D group, 2.8-fold (±0.3) higher in the T group and 6.6-fold (±0.6) higher in the D + T group in comparison with the castrated rats. Ultrastructural alterations in the ventral prostate in response to androgen deprivation were restored after testosterone and dexamethasone plus testosterone treatments and partially restored with dexamethasone alone. The nuclear IDE protein level indicated a 4.3-fold (±0.4) increase in castrated rats treated with D + T when compared with castration alone. Whole-cell IDE protein levels increased approximately 1.5-fold (±0.1), 1.5-fold (±0.1) and 2.9-fold (±0.2) in the D, T and D + T groups, respectively, when compared with castration alone. In conclusion, the present study reports that dexamethasone-induced hyperinsulinaemic condition plus exogenous testosterone treatment leads to synergistic effects of insulin and testosterone in the prostatic growth and in the amount of IDE in the nucleus and whole epithelial cell.

Neuroprotective mechanism conferred by 17beta-estradiol on the biochemical basis of Alzheimer's disease

Estrogen (17beta-estradiol) plays key regulatory roles in a variety of physiological and biological processes. Several lines of evidence also support its role as a protective factor in Alzheimer's disease; however, the basis of this effect is unclear. Here we show that an early-onset Alzheimer's disease transgenic mouse model expressing the double-mutant form of human amyloid precursor protein (APP); Swedish (K670N/M671L) and Indiana (V717F) undergoing treatment with 17beta-estradiol show significantly lower levels of APP processing through beta-secretase and enhanced alpha-secretase processing resulting in marked reductions of APP-CTFbeta, Abeta42 and plaque burden, along with increased levels of the non-amyloidogenic sAPPalpha. Moreover, 17beta-estradiol resulted in elevated brain levels of transthyretin, which inhibits aggregation of Abeta into plaques; though the insulin-degrading enzyme, which breaks down Abeta, was significantly reduced. These results illustrate a multifaceted effect of 17beta-estradiol on the biochemical basis of Alzheimer's disease, through effects on APP processing, Abeta levels and factors that affect its clearance and aggregation. Overall, these results support the need for further long-term longitudinal studies to elucidate consequences of menopause as well as hormone therapy on Alzheimer's disease, and explore its potential as a therapeutic avenue for the disease.

Stem cell antigen-1 localizes to lipid microdomains and associates with insulin degrading enzyme in skeletal myoblasts

Stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1, Ly6A/E) is a glycosylphosphotidylinositol-anchored protein that identifies many tissue progenitor cells. We originally identified Sca-1 as a marker of myogenic precursor cells and subsequently demonstrated that Sca-1 regulates proliferation of activated myoblasts, suggesting an important role for Sca-1 in skeletal muscle homeostasis. Beyond its functional role in regulating proliferation, however, little is known about the mechanism(s) that drive Sca-1-mediated events. We now report that lipid microdomain organization is essential for normal myogenic differentiation, and that Sca-1 constitutively localizes to these domains during myoblast proliferation and differentiation. We also demonstrate that Sca-1 associates with insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), a catalytic protein responsible for the cleavage of mitogenic peptides, in differentiating myoblasts. We show that chemical inhibition of IDE as well as RNAi knockdown of IDE mRNA recapitulates the phenotype of Sca-1 interference, that is, sustained myoblast proliferation and delayed myogenic differentiation. These findings identify the first signaling protein that physically and functionally associates with Sca-1 in myogenic precursor cells, and suggest a potential pathway for Sca-1-mediated signaling. Future efforts to manipulate this pathway may lead to new strategies for augmenting the myogenic proliferative response, and ultimately muscle repair.

Interaction of IGF signaling and the androgen receptor in prostate cancer progression

The insulin-like growth factor type I receptor (IGF-IR) has been suggested to play an important role in prostate cancer progression and possibly in the progression to androgen-independent (AI) disease. The term AI may not be entirely correct, in that recent data suggest that expression of androgen receptor (AR) and androgen-regulated genes is the primary association with prostate cancer progression after hormone ablation. Therefore, signaling through other growth factors has been thought to play a role in AR-mediated prostate cancer progression to AI disease in the absence of androgen ligand. However, existing data on how IGF-IR signaling interacts with AR activation in prostate cancer are conflicting. In this Prospect article, we review some of the published data on the mechanisms of IGF-IR/AR interaction and present new evidence that IGF-IR signaling may modulate AR compartmentation and thus alter AR activity in prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of IGF-IR signaling can result in cytoplasmic AR retention and a significant change in androgen-regulated gene expression. Translocation of AR from the cytoplasm to the nucleus may be associated with IGF-induced dephosphorylation. Since fully humanized antibodies targeting the IGF-IR are now in clinical trials, the current review is intended to reveal the mechanisms of potential therapeutic effects of these antibodies on AI prostate cancers.

Brain estrogen deficiency accelerates Abeta plaque formation in an Alzheimer's disease animal model

Much evidence indicates that women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) than do men. The reason for this gender difference is unclear. We hypothesize that estrogen deficiency in the brains of women with AD may be a key risk factor. In rapidly acquired postmortem brains from women with AD, we found greatly reduced estrogen levels compared with those from age- and gender-matched normal control subjects; AD and control subjects had comparably low levels of serum estrogen. We examined the onset and severity of AD pathology associated with estrogen depletion by using a gene-based approach, by crossing the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme aromatase gene knockout mice with APP23 transgenic mice, a mouse model of AD, to produce estrogen-deficient APP23 mice. Compared with APP23 transgenic control mice, estrogen-deficient APP23 mice exhibited greatly reduced brain estrogen and early-onset and increased beta amyloid peptide (Abeta) deposition. These mice also exhibited increased Abeta production, and microglia cultures prepared from the brains of these mice were impaired in Abeta clearance/degradation. In contrast, ovariectomized APP23 mice exhibited plaque pathology similar to that observed in the APP23 transgenic control mice. Our results indicate that estrogen depletion in the brain may be a significant risk factor for developing AD neuropathology.