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Kaczor-Kamińska M, Kaszuba K, Bilska-Wilkosz A, Iciek M, Wróbel M, Kamiński K. Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a Potential Source of Interference in Research Related to Sulfur Metabolism-A Preliminary Study. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:582. [PMID: 38790687 PMCID: PMC11117631 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050582] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an organosulfur compound, is widely used as the gold standard solvent in biological research. It is used in cell culture experiments and as a component of formulations in in vivo studies. Unfortunately, parameters related to sulfur metabolism are often not taken into account when using DMSO. Therefore, in this work we aim to show that the addition of DMSO to the culture medium (even in amounts commonly considered acceptable) alters some parameters of sulfur metabolism. For this study, we used three cell lines: a commercially available Caco-2 line (HTB-37, ATCC) and two lines created as part of our early studies (likewise previously described in the literature) to investigate the anomalies of sulfur metabolism in mucopolysaccharidosis. As the negative effects of DMSO on the cell membrane are well known, additional experiments with the partial loading of DMSO into polymerosomes (poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PEG-PLGA) were performed to eliminate these potentially disruptive effects. The results show that DMSO is a source of interference in studies related to sulfur metabolism and that there are not just simple effects that can be corrected in the final result by subtracting control values, since complex synergisms are also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kaczor-Kamińska
- Chair in Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7 St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (A.B.-W.); (M.I.); (M.W.)
| | - Kinga Kaszuba
- Chair in Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7 St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (A.B.-W.); (M.I.); (M.W.)
| | - Anna Bilska-Wilkosz
- Chair in Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7 St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (A.B.-W.); (M.I.); (M.W.)
| | - Małgorzata Iciek
- Chair in Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7 St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (A.B.-W.); (M.I.); (M.W.)
| | - Maria Wróbel
- Chair in Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7 St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (A.B.-W.); (M.I.); (M.W.)
| | - Kamil Kamiński
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2 St., 30-387 Krakow, Poland;
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Dawoud A, Youness RA, Nafea H, Manie T, Bourquin C, Szabo C, Abdel-Kader RM, Gad MZ. Pan-inhibition of the three H 2S synthesizing enzymes restrains tumor progression and immunosuppression in breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:136. [PMID: 38627665 PMCID: PMC11020979 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03317-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a significant endogenous mediator that has been implicated in the progression of various forms of cancer including breast cancer (BC). Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST) are the three principal mammalian enzymes responsible for H2S production. Overexpression of CBS, CSE and 3MST was found to be associated with poor prognosis of BC patients. Moreover, H2S was linked to an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment in BC. Recently it was observed that BC cells, in response to single or dual inhibition of H2S synthesizing enzymes, develop an escape mechanism by overexpressing alternative sources of H2S generation. Thus, the aim of this work is to escape the H2S compensatory mechanism by pan repressing the three enzymes using microRNAs (miRNAs) and to investigate their impact on the oncogenic and immunogenic profile of BC cells. METHODS BC female patients (n = 25) were recruited. In-silico analysis was used to identify miRNAs targeting CBS, CSE, and 3MST. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured and transfected using oligonucleotides. Total RNA was extracted using Biazol, reverse transcribed and quantified using qRT-PCR. H2S levels were measured using AzMc assay. BC hallmarks were assessed using trans-well migration, wound healing, MTT, and colony forming assays. RESULTS miR-193a and miR-548c were validated by eight different bioinformatics software to simultaneously target CBS, CSE and 3MST. MiR-193a and miR-548c were significantly downregulated in BC tissues compared to their non-cancerous counterparts. Ectopic expression of miR-193a and miR-548c in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells resulted in a marked repression of CBS, CSE, and 3MST transcript and protein levels, a significant decrease in H2S levels, reduction in cellular viability, inhibition of migration and colony forming ability, repression of immune-suppressor proteins GAL3 GAL9, and CD155 and upregulation of the immunostimulatory MICA and MICB proteins. CONCLUSION This study sheds the light onto miR-193a and miR-548c as potential pan-repressors of the H2S synthesizing enzymes. and identifies them as novel tumor suppressor and immunomodulatory miRNAs in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyaa Dawoud
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rana A Youness
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), New Administrative Capital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Heba Nafea
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Tamer Manie
- Department of Breast Surgery, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Carole Bourquin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
| | - Csaba Szabo
- Chair of Pharmacology, Section of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Reham M Abdel-Kader
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Z Gad
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
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Luo Y, Chatre L, Melhem S, Al-Dahmani ZM, Homer NZM, Miedema A, Deelman LE, Groves MR, Feelisch M, Morton NM, Dolga A, van Goor H. Thiosulfate sulfurtransferase deficiency promotes oxidative distress and aberrant NRF2 function in the brain. Redox Biol 2023; 68:102965. [PMID: 38000344 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST, EC 2.8.1.1) was discovered as an enzyme that detoxifies cyanide by conversion to thiocyanate (rhodanide) using thiosulfate as substrate; this rhodanese activity was subsequently identified to be almost exclusively located in mitochondria. More recently, the emphasis regarding its function has shifted to hydrogen sulfide metabolism, antioxidant defense, and mitochondrial function in the context of protective biological processes against oxidative distress. While TST has been described to play an important role in liver and colon, its function in the brain remains obscure. In the present study, we therefore sought to address its potential involvement in maintaining cerebral redox balance in a murine model of global TST deficiency (Tst-/- mice), primarily focusing on characterizing the biochemical phenotype of TST loss in relation to neuronal activity and sensitivity to oxidative stress under basal conditions. Here, we show that TST deficiency is associated with a perturbation of the reactive species interactome in the brain cortex secondary to altered ROS and RSS (specifically, polysulfide) generation as well as mitochondrial OXPHOS remodeling. These changes were accompanied by aberrant Nrf2-Keap1 expression and thiol-dependent antioxidant function. Upon challenging mice with the redox-active herbicide paraquat (25 mg/kg i.p. for 24 h), Tst-/- mice displayed a lower antioxidant capacity compared to wildtype controls (C57BL/6J mice). These results provide a first glimpse into the molecular and metabolic changes of TST deficiency in the brain and suggest that pathophysiological conditions associated with aberrant TST expression and/or activity renders neurons more susceptible to oxidative stress-related malfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Luo
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Laurent Chatre
- Université de Caen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie University, ISTCT UMR6030, GIP Cyceron, F-14000 Caen, France
| | - Shaden Melhem
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Zayana M Al-Dahmani
- University of Groningen, Department of Pharmacy, Drug Design, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Natalie Z M Homer
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University of Edinburgh/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburghh, United Kingdom
| | - Anneke Miedema
- University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leo E Deelman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew R Groves
- University of Groningen, Department of Pharmacy, Drug Design, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Feelisch
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas M Morton
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Systems Health and Integrated Metabolic Research, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Amalia Dolga
- University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Yohimbine Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Suppresses Aerobic Cysteine Metabolism Elevated in the Rat Liver of High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052025. [PMID: 36903271 PMCID: PMC10004569 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052025] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Yohimbine is a small indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the yohimbe tree with documented biological activity, including anti-inflammatory, erectile dysfunction relieving, and fat-burning properties. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfane sulfur-containing compounds are regarded as important molecules in redox regulation and are involved in many physiological processes. Recently, their role in the pathophysiology of obesity and obesity-induced liver injury was also reported. The aim of the present study was to verify whether the mechanism of biological activity of yohimbine is related to reactive sulfur species formed during cysteine catabolism. We tested the effect of yohimbine at doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg/day administered for 30 days on aerobic and anaerobic catabolism of cysteine and oxidative processes in the liver of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Our study revealed that HFD resulted in a decrease in cysteine and sulfane sulfur levels in the liver, while sulfates were elevated. In the liver of obese rats, rhodanese expression was diminished while lipid peroxidation increased. Yohimbine did not influence sulfane sulfur and thiol levels in the liver of obese rats, however, this alkaloid at a dose of 5 mg decreased sulfates to the control level and induced expression of rhodanese. Moreover, it diminished hepatic lipid peroxidation. It can be concluded that HFD attenuates anaerobic and enhances aerobic cysteine catabolism and induces lipid peroxidation in the rat liver. Yohimbine at a dose of 5 mg/kg can alleviate oxidative stress and reduce elevated concentrations of sulfate probably by the induction of TST expression.
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Szabo C. Novel Regulatory Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide in Health and Disease. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101372. [PMID: 36291581 PMCID: PMC9599174 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Szabo
- Chair of Pharmacology, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Buonvino S, Arciero I, Melino S. Thiosulfate-Cyanide Sulfurtransferase a Mitochondrial Essential Enzyme: From Cell Metabolism to the Biotechnological Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158452. [PMID: 35955583 PMCID: PMC9369223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thiosulfate: cyanide sulfurtransferase (TST), also named rhodanese, is an enzyme widely distributed in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, where it plays a relevant role in mitochondrial function. TST enzyme is involved in several biochemical processes such as: cyanide detoxification, the transport of sulfur and selenium in biologically available forms, the restoration of iron–sulfur clusters, redox system maintenance and the mitochondrial import of 5S rRNA. Recently, the relevance of TST in metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, has been highlighted, opening the way for research on important aspects of sulfur metabolism in diabetes. This review underlines the structural and functional characteristics of TST, describing the physiological role and biomedical and biotechnological applications of this essential enzyme.
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Ascenção K, Szabo C. Emerging roles of cystathionine β-synthase in various forms of cancer. Redox Biol 2022; 53:102331. [PMID: 35618601 PMCID: PMC9168780 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of the reverse transsulfuration enzyme cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) is markedly increased in many forms of cancer, including colorectal, ovarian, lung, breast and kidney, while in other cancers (liver cancer and glioma) it becomes downregulated. According to the clinical database data in high-CBS-expressor cancers (e.g. colon or ovarian cancer), high CBS expression typically predicts lower survival, while in the low-CBS-expressor cancers (e.g. liver cancer), low CBS expression is associated with lower survival. In the high-CBS expressing tumor cells, CBS, and its product hydrogen sulfide (H2S) serves as a bioenergetic, proliferative, cytoprotective and stemness factor; it also supports angiogenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the cancer microenvironment. The current article reviews the various tumor-cell-supporting roles of the CBS/H2S axis in high-CBS expressor cancers and overviews the anticancer effects of CBS silencing and pharmacological CBS inhibition in various cancer models in vitro and in vivo; it also outlines potential approaches for biomarker identification, to support future targeted cancer therapies based on pharmacological CBS inhibition.
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Kaczor-Kamińska M, Kamiński K, Wróbel M. Heparan Sulfate, Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB and Sulfur Metabolism Disorders. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040678. [PMID: 35453363 PMCID: PMC9026333 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis, type IIIB (MPS IIIB) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the N-alpha-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) gene resulting in decreased or absent enzyme activity. On the cellular level, the disorder is characterized by the massive lysosomal storage of heparan sulfate (HS)—one species of glycosaminoglycans. HS is a sulfur-rich macromolecule, and its accumulation should affect the turnover of total sulfur in cells; according to the studies presented here, it, indeed, does. The lysosomal degradation of HS in cells produces monosaccharides and inorganic sulfate (SO42−). Sulfate is a product of L-cysteine metabolism, and any disruption of its levels affects the entire L-cysteine catabolism pathway, which was first reported in 2019. It is known that L-cysteine level is elevated in cells with the Naglu−/− gene mutation and in selected tissues of individuals with MPS IIIB. The level of glutathione and the Naglu−/− cells’ antioxidant potential are significantly reduced, as well as the activity of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST, EC 2.8.1.2) and the level of sulfane sulfur-containing compounds. The direct reason is not yet known. This paper attempts to identify some of cause-and-effect correlations that may lead to this condition and identifies research directions that should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kaczor-Kamińska
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-12-422-7400
| | - Kamil Kamiński
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, 2 Gronostajowa St., 30-387 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Maria Wróbel
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika St., 31-034 Krakow, Poland;
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