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Bian Y, Deng M, Liu J, Li J, Zhang Q, Wang Z, Liao L, Miao J, Li R, Zhou X, Hou G. The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu 2+ tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6. Redox Biol 2024; 75:103237. [PMID: 38879894 PMCID: PMC11228880 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103237] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Silicosis is the most common type of pneumoconiosis, having a high incidence in workers chronically exposed to crystalline silica (CS). No specific medication exists for this condition. GHK, a tripeptide naturally occurring in human blood and urine, has antioxidant effects. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of GHK-Cu on silicosis and its potential underlying molecular mechanism. An experimental silicosis mouse model was established to observe the effects of GHK-Cu on lung inflammation and fibrosis. Moreover, the effects of GHK-Cu on the alveolar macrophages (AM) were examined using the RAW264.7 cell line. Its molecular target, peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), has been identified, and GHK-Cu can bind to PRDX6, thus attenuating lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis mice without significant systemic toxicity. These effects were partly related to the inhibition of the CS-induced oxidative stress in AM induced by GHK-Cu. Thus, our results suggest that GHK-Cu acts as a potential drug by attenuating alveolar macrophage oxidative stress. This, in turn, attenuates the progression of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, which provides a reference for the treatment of silicosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiding Bian
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China; China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institution of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mingming Deng
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaye Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zilin Wang
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China; China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institution of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Liwei Liao
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinrui Miao
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ruixia Li
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Gang Hou
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
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2
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Min JH, Sarlus H, Harris RA. Copper toxicity and deficiency: the vicious cycle at the core of protein aggregation in ALS. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1408159. [PMID: 39050823 PMCID: PMC11267976 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1408159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of ALS involves many signs of a disruption in copper homeostasis, with both excess free levels and functional deficiency likely occurring simultaneously. This is crucial, as many important physiological functions are performed by cuproenzymes. While it is unsurprising that many ALS symptoms are related to signs of copper deficiency, resulting in vascular, antioxidant system and mitochondrial oxidative respiration deficiencies, there are also signs of copper toxicity such as ROS generation and enhanced protein aggregation. We discuss how copper also plays a key role in proteostasis and interacts either directly or indirectly with many of the key aggregate-prone proteins implicated in ALS, such as TDP-43, C9ORF72, SOD1 and FUS as well as the effect of their aggregation on copper homeostasis. We suggest that loss of cuproprotein function is at the core of ALS pathology, a condition that is driven by a combination of unbound copper and ROS that can either initiate and/or accelerate protein aggregation. This could trigger a positive feedback cycle whereby protein aggregates trigger the aggregation of other proteins in a chain reaction that eventually captures elements of the proteostatic mechanisms in place to counteract them. The end result is an abundance of aggregated non-functional cuproproteins and chaperones alongside depleted intracellular copper stores, resulting in a general lack of cuproenzyme function. We then discuss the possible aetiology of ALS and illustrate how strong risk factors including environmental toxins such as BMAA and heavy metals can functionally behave to promote protein aggregation and disturb copper metabolism that likely drives this vicious cycle in sporadic ALS. From this synthesis, we propose restoration of copper balance using copper delivery agents in combination with chaperones/chaperone mimetics, perhaps in conjunction with the neuroprotective amino acid serine, as a promising strategy in the treatment of this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hong Min
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital at Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Kumar M, Kumar D, Kumar D, Garg Y, Chopra S, Bhatia A. Therapeutic Potential of Nanocarrier Mediated Delivery of Peptides for Wound Healing: Current Status, Challenges and Future Prospective. AAPS PharmSciTech 2024; 25:108. [PMID: 38730090 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-024-02827-5] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Wound healing presents a complex physiological process that involves a sequence of events orchestrated by various cellular and molecular mechanisms. In recent years, there has been growing interest in leveraging nanomaterials and peptides to enhance wound healing outcomes. Nanocarriers offer unique properties such as high surface area-to-volume ratio, tunable physicochemical characteristics, and the ability to deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled manner. Similarly, peptides, with their diverse biological activities and low immunogenicity, hold great promise as therapeutics in wound healing applications. In this review, authors explore the potential of peptides as bioactive components in wound healing formulations, focusing on their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative properties. Despite the significant progress made in this field, several challenges remain, including the need for standardized characterization methods, optimization of biocompatibility and safety profiles, and translation from bench to bedside. Furthermore, developing multifunctional nanomaterial-peptide hybrid systems represents promising avenues for future research. Overall, the integration of nanomaterials made up of natural or synthetic polymers with peptide-based formulations holds tremendous therapeutic potential in advancing the field of wound healing and improving clinical outcomes for patients with acute and chronic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Dikshant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Devesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Yogesh Garg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Shruti Chopra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Amit Bhatia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India.
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4
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Min JH, Sarlus H, Harris RA. Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine prevents copper- and zinc-induced protein aggregation and central nervous system cell death in vitro. Metallomics 2024; 16:mfae019. [PMID: 38599632 PMCID: PMC11135135 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae019] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Common features of neurodegenerative diseases are oxidative and inflammatory imbalances as well as the misfolding of proteins. An excess of free metal ions can be pathological and contribute to cell death, but only copper and zinc strongly promote protein aggregation. Herein we demonstrate that the endogenous copper-binding tripeptide glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) has the ability to bind to and reduce copper redox activity and to prevent copper- and zinc-induced cell death in vitro. In addition, GHK prevents copper- and zinc-induced bovine serum albumin aggregation and reverses aggregation through resolubilizing the protein. We further demonstrate the enhanced toxicity of copper during inflammation and the ability of GHK to attenuate this toxicity. Finally, we investigated the effects of copper on enhancing paraquat toxicity and report a protective effect of GHK. We therefore conclude that GHK has potential as a cytoprotective compound with regard to copper and zinc toxicity, with positive effects on protein solubility and aggregation that warrant further investigation in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hong Min
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heela Sarlus
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert A Harris
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Dong H, Wen X, Zhang BW, Wu Z, Zou W. Astrocytes in intracerebral hemorrhage: impact and therapeutic objectives. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1327472. [PMID: 38419793 PMCID: PMC10899346 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1327472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) manifests precipitously and profoundly impairs the neurological function in patients who are affected. The etiology of subsequent injury post-ICH is multifaceted, characterized by the intricate interplay of various factors, rendering therapeutic interventions challenging. Astrocytes, a distinct class of glial cells, interact with neurons and microglia, and are implicated in a series of pathophysiological alterations following ICH. A comprehensive examination of the functions and mechanisms associated with astrocytic proteins may shed light on the role of astrocytes in ICH pathology and proffer innovative therapeutic avenues for ICH management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Dong
- The First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Wen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Bai-Wen Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Zhe Wu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Zou
- The Third Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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6
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Kumar G, Srivastava A, Kumar P, Srikrishna S, Singh VP. A chromogenic diarylethene-based probe for the detection of Cu 2+ in aqueous medium in Drosophila for early diagnosis of Alzheimer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24074. [PMID: 38230249 PMCID: PMC10789622 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
A diarylethene-based probe (Z)-N'-((2-amino-5-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methylene)-2-hydroxy benzohydrazide (KBH) has been proficiently developed and its structure has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. It displays a selective and sensitive colorimetric sensing of Cu2+ ions in aqueous medium with a naked eye colour change from colourless to yellow. It exhibits a significantly low limit of detection as 1.5 nM. A plausible binding mechanism has been proposed using Job's plot, FT-IR, 1H NMR titration, HRMS and DFT studies. The chemosensor is effectively reversible and reusable with EDTA. Test strip kit and real water sample analysis have been shown to establish its practical applicability. Further, the potential of KBH for the early diagnosis of Cu2+ ion-induced amyloid toxicity has been investigated in eye imaginal disc of Alzheimer's disease model of Drosophila 3rd instar larvae. The in-vivo interaction of KBH with Cu2+ in gut tissues of Drosophila larvae establishes its sensing capability in biological system. Interestingly, the in-vivo detection of Cu2+ has been done using bright field imaging which eliminates the necessity of a fluorescent label, hence making the method highly economical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Ananya Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Prabhat Kumar
- Department of Bio Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - S. Srikrishna
- Department of Bio Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Vinod P. Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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7
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Tucker M, Liao GY, Park JY, Rosenfeld M, Wezeman J, Mangalindan R, Ratner D, Darvas M, Ladiges W. Behavioral and neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease are attenuated in 5xFAD mice treated with intranasal GHK peptide. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.20.567908. [PMID: 38045355 PMCID: PMC10690187 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to find disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have met with limited success in part because the focus has been on testing drugs that target a specific pathogenic mechanism. Multiple pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Hence, the probability of more effective treatment for AD is likely increased by using an intervention that targets more than one pathway. The naturally occurring peptide GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine), as a GHK-Cu complex, supports angiogenesis, remodeling, and tissue repair, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and has been shown to improve cognitive performance in aging mice. In order to test GHK-Cu as a neurotherapeutic for AD, male and female 5xFAD transgenic mice on the C57BL/6 background at 4 months of age were given 15 mg/kg GHK-Cu intranasally 3 times per week for 3 months until 7 months of age. Results showed that intranasal GHK-Cu treatment delayed cognitive impairment, reduced amyloid plaques, and lowered inflammation levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. These observations suggest additional studies are warranted to investigate the potential of GHK-Cu peptide as a promising treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tucker
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Gerald Yu Liao
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Joo Young Park
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Manuela Rosenfeld
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Jackson Wezeman
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Ruby Mangalindan
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Dan Ratner
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Martin Darvas
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Warren Ladiges
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
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8
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Tucker M, Keely A, Park JY, Rosenfeld M, Wezeman J, Mangalindan R, Ratner D, Ladiges W. Intranasal GHK peptide enhances resilience to cognitive decline in aging mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.16.567423. [PMID: 38014118 PMCID: PMC10680828 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.16.567423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Brain aging and cognitive decline are aspects of growing old. Age-related cognitive impairment entails the early stages of cognitive decline, and is extremely common, affecting millions of older people. Investigation into early cognitive decline as a treatable condition is relevant to a wide range of cognitive impairment conditions, since mild age-related neuropathology increases risk for more severe neuropathology and dementia associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Recent studies suggest that the naturally occurring peptide GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) in its Cu-bound form, has the potential to treat cognitive decline associated with aging. In order to test this concept, male and female C57BL/6 mice, 20 months of age, were given intranasal GHK-Cu, 15 mg/kg daily, for two months. Results showed that mice treated with intranasal GHK-Cu had an enhanced level of cognitive performance in spatial memory and learning navigation tasks, and expressed decreased neuroinflammatory and axonal damage markers compared to mice treated with intranasal saline. These observations suggest that GHK-Cu can enhance resilience to brain aging, and has translational implications for further testing in both preclinical and clinical studies using an atomizer device for intranasal delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tucker
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Addison Keely
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Joo Young Park
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Manuela Rosenfeld
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Jackson Wezeman
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Ruby Mangalindan
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Dan Ratner
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Warren Ladiges
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA
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9
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Tosto R, Vecchio G, Bellia F. New Biotinylated GHK and Related Copper(II) Complex: Antioxidant and Antiglycant Properties In Vitro against Neurodegenerative Disorders. Molecules 2023; 28:6724. [PMID: 37764500 PMCID: PMC10538196 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186724] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. The failure of the enzymatic degradation, the oxidative stress, the dyshomeostasis of metal ions, among many other biochemical events, might trigger the pathological route, but the onset of these pathologies is unknown. Multi-target and multifunctional molecules could address several biomolecular issues of the pathologies. The tripeptide GHK, a bioactive fragment of several proteins, and the related copper(II) complex have been largely used for many purposes, from cosmetic to therapeutic applications. GHK derivatives were synthesized to increase the peptide stability and improve the target delivery. Herein we report the synthesis of a new biotin-GHK conjugate (BioGHK) through orthogonal reactions. BioGHK is still capable of coordinating copper(II), as observed by spectroscopic and spectrometric measurements. The spectroscopic monitoring of the copper-induced ascorbate oxidation was used to measure the antioxidant activity Cu(II)-BioGHK complex, whereas antiglycant activity of the ligand towards harmful reactive species was investigated using MALDI-TOF. The affinity of BioGHK for streptavidin was evaluated using a spectrophotometric assay and compared to that of biotin. Finally, the antiaggregant activity towards amyloid-β was evaluated using a turn-on fluorescent dye. BioGHK could treat and/or prevent several adverse biochemical reactions that characterize neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tosto
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy;
| | - Graziella Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy;
| | - Francesco Bellia
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy;
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10
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Jeong EK, Selvaraj B, Clovis S, Son YJ, Park TH, Veeramanoharan A, Kim HI, Yoo KY, Lee JW, Park CM. Synthesis and neuroprotective effects of H 2S-donor-peptide hybrids on hippocampal neuronal cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 194:316-325. [PMID: 36528123 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an endogenous signaling molecule that functions in many physiological and pathological processes of human cells in health and disease, including neuromodulation and neuroprotection, inflammation, angiogenesis, and vasorelaxation. The limited clinical applications of current H2S donors have led to the development of H2S donor hybrid compounds that combine current H2S donors with bioactive molecules. Finely tuned multi-targeting hybrid molecules have been shown to have complementary neuroprotective effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress. In this study, we developed hybrid molecules combining a dithiolethione-based slow-releasing H2S donor that exerts neuroprotective effects, with the tripeptides glycyl-L-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) and L-alanyl-L-cystinyl-l-glutamine (ACQ), two natural products that exhibit powerful antioxidant effects. In particular, a hybrid combination of a dithiolethione-based slow-releasing H2S donor and ACQ exhibited significant neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced oxidative damage in HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. This hybrid remarkably suppressed Ca2+ accumulation and ROS production. Furthermore, it efficiently inhibited apoptotic neuronal cell death by blocking apoptosis-inducing factor release and its translocation to the nucleus. These results indicate that the hybrid efficiently inhibited apoptotic neuronal cell damage by complementary neuroprotective actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eui Kyun Jeong
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Baskar Selvaraj
- Natural Product Research Center, Institute of Natural Product, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25451, South Korea
| | - Shyaka Clovis
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Yun Jeong Son
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Tae Hoo Park
- Natural Product Research Center, Institute of Natural Product, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25451, South Korea
| | - Ashokkumar Veeramanoharan
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Hoe-In Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Ki-Yeon Yoo
- Department of Anatomy, College of Dentistry, Reseach Institute of Oral Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea
| | - Jae Wook Lee
- Natural Product Research Center, Institute of Natural Product, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25451, South Korea.
| | - Chung-Min Park
- Department of Chemistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25457, South Korea.
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11
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Mathew EN, Berry BC, Yang HW, Carroll RS, Johnson MD. Delivering Therapeutics to Glioblastoma: Overcoming Biological Constraints. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031711. [PMID: 35163633 PMCID: PMC8835860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most lethal intrinsic brain tumor. Even with the existing treatment regimen of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the median survival time is only 15–23 months. The invasive nature of this tumor makes its complete removal very difficult, leading to a high recurrence rate of over 90%. Drug delivery to glioblastoma is challenging because of the molecular and cellular heterogeneity of the tumor, its infiltrative nature, and the blood–brain barrier. Understanding the critical characteristics that restrict drug delivery to the tumor is necessary to develop platforms for the enhanced delivery of effective treatments. In this review, we address the impact of tumor invasion, the molecular and cellular heterogeneity of the tumor, and the blood–brain barrier on the delivery and distribution of drugs using potential therapeutic delivery options such as convection-enhanced delivery, controlled release systems, nanomaterial systems, peptide-based systems, and focused ultrasound.
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12
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Bossak-Ahmad K, Bal W, Frączyk T, Drew SC. Ternary Cu 2+ Complexes of Human Serum Albumin and Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:16927-16931. [PMID: 34730942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c03084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Human serum albumin (HSA) and the growth factor glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) bind Cu2+ as part of their normal functions. GHK is found at its highest concentration in the albumin-rich fraction of plasma, leading to speculation that HSA and GHK form a ternary Cu2+ complex. Although preliminary evidence was presented 40 years ago, the structure and stability of such a complex have remained elusive. Here, we show that two ternary Cu(GHK)NImHSA complexes are formed between GHK and the imino nitrogen (NIm) of His side chains of HSA. We identified His3 as one site of ternary complex formation (conditional binding constant cKCu(GHK)NImHis3Cu(GHK) = 2900 M-1 at pH 7.4), with the second site (cKCu(GHK)NImHisXCu(GHK) = 1700 M-1) likely being supplied by either His128 or His510. Together with the established role of HSA as a molecular shuttle in the blood, these complexes may aid the transport of the exchangeable Cu2+ pool and the functional form of GHK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Bossak-Ahmad
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Tomasz Frączyk
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Simon C Drew
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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13
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Budama-Kilinc Y, Kecel-Gunduz S, Cakir-Koc R, Aslan B, Bicak B, Kokcu Y, Ozel AE, Akyuz S. Structural Characterization and Drug Delivery System of Natural Growth-Modulating Peptide Against Glioblastoma Cancer. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10229-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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14
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Plascencia-Villa G, Perry G. Preventive and Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Oxidative Stress, Redox Metals, and Ferroptosis. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 34:591-610. [PMID: 32486897 PMCID: PMC8098758 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2020.8134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death, but some sources put it as third, after heart disease and cancer. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic approaches to treat or slow the progression of chronic neurodegeneration. In addition to the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau, AD patients show progressive neuronal loss and neuronal death, also high oxidative stress that correlates with abnormal levels or overload of brain metals. Recent Advances: Several promising compounds targeting oxidative stress, redox metals, and neuronal death are under preclinical or clinical evaluation as an alternative or complementary therapeutic strategy in mild cognitive impairment and AD. Here, we present a general analysis and overview, discuss limitations, and suggest potential directions for these treatments for AD and related dementia. Critical Issues: Most of the disease-modifying therapeutic strategies for AD under evaluation in clinical trials have focused on components of the amyloid cascade, including antibodies to reduce levels of Aβ and tau, as well as inhibitors of secretases. Unfortunately, several of the amyloid-focused therapeutics have failed the clinical outcomes or presented side effects, and numerous clinical trials of compounds have been halted, reducing realistic options for the development of effective AD treatments. Future Directions: The focus of research on AD and related dementias is shifting to alternative or innovative areas, such as ApoE, lipids, synapses, oxidative stress, cell death mechanisms, neuroimmunology, and neuroinflammation, as well as brain metabolism and bioenergetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Plascencia-Villa
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - George Perry
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, Texas, USA
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15
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Bagheri S, Saboury AA. What role do metals play in Alzheimer's disease? JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-021-02181-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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Mehr A, Henneberg F, Chari A, Görlich D, Huyton T. The copper(II)-binding tripeptide GHK, a valuable crystallization and phasing tag for macromolecular crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:1222-1232. [PMID: 33263328 PMCID: PMC7709198 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320013741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth of diffraction-quality crystals and experimental phasing remain two of the main bottlenecks in protein crystallography. Here, the high-affinity copper(II)-binding tripeptide GHK was fused to the N-terminus of a GFP variant and an MBP-FG peptide fusion. The GHK tag promoted crystallization, with various residues (His, Asp, His/Pro) from symmetry molecules completing the copper(II) square-pyramidal coordination sphere. Rapid structure determination by copper SAD phasing could be achieved, even at a very low Bijvoet ratio or after significant radiation damage. When collecting highly redundant data at a wavelength close to the copper absorption edge, residual S-atom positions could also be located in log-likelihood-gradient maps and used to improve the phases. The GHK copper SAD method provides a convenient way of both crystallizing and phasing macromolecular structures, and will complement the current trend towards native sulfur SAD and MR-SAD phasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Mehr
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian Henneberg
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ashwin Chari
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Görlich
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Trevor Huyton
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
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17
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Zhang H, Wang Y, Lian L, Zhang C, He Z. Glycine-Histidine-Lysine (GHK) Alleviates Astrocytes Injury of Intracerebral Hemorrhage via the Akt/miR-146a-3p/AQP4 Pathway. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:576389. [PMID: 33192260 PMCID: PMC7658812 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.576389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major type of cerebrovascular disease with poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) is a kind of natural human tripeptide which could inhibit inflammation and against neurodegenerative diseases, but neither its role nor the mechanisms in ICH have yet been explicit. Currently, we investigated the possible strategies of GHK on ICH injury. Neurological deficit scores, brain water content, Nissl staining, and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) immunohistochemistry were detected in different groups of rats. The expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) was examined by real-time PCR. Inflammatory factors were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell viability and cell proliferation were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1), AQP4 expression were detected/assessed using western blot. We observed that 5 and 10 μg/g of GHK improved neurological recovery by significantly reducing brain water content, improving neurological deficits, and promoting neuron survival. Besides, GHK alleviated inflammatory reaction and downregulated AQP4 expression. Furthermore, the effects of GHK on astrocyte were associated with the upregulation of miRNA-146a-3p, which partially regulated the expression of AQP4. Our results demonstrated that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway participated in the GHK-induced upregulation of miR-146a-3p and miR-146a-3p/AQP4 interaction plays a role in the injury following ICH. These findings suggested that GHK could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for ICH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ling Lian
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyi He
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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18
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Zoughaib M, Luong D, Garifullin R, Gatina DZ, Fedosimova SV, Abdullin TI. Enhanced angiogenic effects of RGD, GHK peptides and copper (II) compositions in synthetic cryogel ECM model. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2020; 120:111660. [PMID: 33545827 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic oligopeptides are a promising alternative to natural full-length growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in tissue regeneration and therapeutic angiogenesis applications. In this work, angiogenic properties of dual and triple compositions containing RGD, GHK peptides and copper (II) ions (Cu2+) were for the first time studied. To reveal specific in vitro effects of these compositions in three-dimensional scaffold, adamantyl group bearing peptides, namely Ada-Ahx-GGRGD (1) and Ada-Ahx-GGGHK (2), were effectively immobilized in bioinert pHEMA macroporous cryogel via host-guest β-cyclodextrin-adamantane interaction. The cryogels were additionally functionalized with Cu2+ via the formation of GHK-Cu complex. Angiogenic responses of HUVECs grown within the cryogel ECM model were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the combination of RGD with GHK and further with Cu2+ dramatically increases cell proliferation, differentiation, and production of a series of angiogenesis related cytokines and growth factors. Furthermore, the level of glutathione, a key cellular antioxidant and redox regulator, was altered in relation to the angiogenic effects. These results are of particular interest for establishing the role of multiple peptide signals on regeneration related processes and for developing improved tissue engineering materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zoughaib
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Duong Luong
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Ruslan Garifullin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Dilara Z Gatina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Svetlana V Fedosimova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Timur I Abdullin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia.
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19
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Ejaz HW, Wang W, Lang M. Copper Toxicity Links to Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease and Therapeutics Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7660. [PMID: 33081348 PMCID: PMC7589751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, age-related progressive neurological disorder, and the most common type of dementia in aged people. Neuropathological lesions of AD are neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and senile plaques comprise the accumulated amyloid-beta (Aβ), loaded with metal ions including Cu, Fe, or Zn. Some reports have identified metal dyshomeostasis as a neurotoxic factor of AD, among which Cu ions seem to be a central cationic metal in the formation of plaque and soluble oligomers, and have an essential role in the AD pathology. Cu-Aβ complex catalyzes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and results in oxidative damage. Several studies have indicated that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. The connection of copper levels in AD is still ambiguous, as some researches indicate a Cu deficiency, while others show its higher content in AD, and therefore there is a need to increase and decrease its levels in animal models, respectively, to study which one is the cause. For more than twenty years, many in vitro studies have been devoted to identifying metals' roles in Aβ accumulation, oxidative damage, and neurotoxicity. Towards the end, a short review of the modern therapeutic approach in chelation therapy, with the main focus on Cu ions, is discussed. Despite the lack of strong proofs of clinical advantage so far, the conjecture that using a therapeutic metal chelator is an effective strategy for AD remains popular. However, some recent reports of genetic-regulating copper transporters in AD models have shed light on treating this refractory disease. This review aims to succinctly present a better understanding of Cu ions' current status in several AD features, and some conflicting reports are present herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafza Wajeeha Ejaz
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19, Beijing 100049, China;
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth WA6027, Australia;
| | - Minglin Lang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19, Beijing 100049, China;
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, China
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20
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Ternary Cu(II) Complex with GHK Peptide and Cis-Urocanic Acid as a Potential Physiologically Functional Copper Chelate. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176190. [PMID: 32867146 PMCID: PMC7503498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tripeptide NH2–Gly–His–Lys–COOH (GHK), cis-urocanic acid (cis-UCA) and Cu(II) ions are physiological constituents of the human body and they co-occur (e.g., in the skin and the plasma). While GHK is known as Cu(II)-binding molecule, we found that urocanic acid also coordinates Cu(II) ions. Furthermore, both ligands create ternary Cu(II) complex being probably physiologically functional species. Regarding the natural concentrations of the studied molecules in some human tissues, together with the affinities reported here, we conclude that the ternary complex [GHK][Cu(II)][cis-urocanic acid] may be partly responsible for biological effects of GHK and urocanic acid described in the literature.
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21
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Hsiao CD, Wu HH, Malhotra N, Liu YC, Wu YH, Lin YN, Saputra F, Santoso F, Chen KHC. Expression and Purification of Recombinant GHK Tripeptides Are Able to Protect against Acute Cardiotoxicity from Exposure to Waterborne-Copper in Zebrafish. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1202. [PMID: 32825031 PMCID: PMC7564529 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, an alternative method is developed to replace chemical synthesis to produce glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK) tripeptides with a bacterial fermentation system. The target GHK tripeptides are cloned into expression plasmids carrying histidine-glutathione-S-transferase (GST) double tags and TEV (tobacco etch virus) cleavage sites at the N-terminus. After overexpression in Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21 cells, the recombinant proteins are purified and recovered by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). UV-vis absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the chemical and biological properties of the recombinant GHK tripeptides. The results demonstrated that one recombinant GHK tripeptide can bind one copper ion to form a GHK-Cu complex with high affinity, and the recombinant GHK peptide to copper ion ratio is 1:1. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) of the copper ions indicated that the oxidation state of copper in the recombinant GHK-Cu complexes here was Cu(II). All of the optical spectrum evidence suggests that the recombinant GHK tripeptide appears to possess the same biophysical and biochemical features as the GHK tripeptide isolated from human plasma. Due to the high binding affinity of GHK tripeptides to copper ions, we used zebrafish as an in vivo model to elucidate whether recombinant GHK tripeptides possess detoxification potential against the cardiotoxicity raised by waterborne Cu(II) exposure. Here, exposure to Cu(II) induced bradycardia and heartbeat irregularity in zebrafish larvae; however, the administration of GHK tripeptides could rescue those experiencing cardiotoxicity, even at the lowest concentration of 1 nM, where the GHK-Cu complex minimized CuSO4-induced cardiotoxicity effects at a GHK:Cu ratio of 1:10. On the other hand, copper and the combination with the GHK tripeptide did not significantly alter other cardiovascular parameters, including stroke volume, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. Meanwhile, the heart rate and cardiac output were boosted after exposure with 1 nM of GHK peptides. In this study, recombinant GHK tripeptide expression was performed, along with purification and chemical property characterization, which revealed a potent cardiotoxicity protection function in vivo with zebrafish for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (C.-D.H.); (N.M.); (Y.-N.L.); (F.S.); (F.S.)
- Master Program of Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Hui Wu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan; (H.-H.W.); (Y.-C.L.); (Y.-H.W.)
| | - Nemi Malhotra
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (C.-D.H.); (N.M.); (Y.-N.L.); (F.S.); (F.S.)
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan; (H.-H.W.); (Y.-C.L.); (Y.-H.W.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ching Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan; (H.-H.W.); (Y.-C.L.); (Y.-H.W.)
| | - Ying-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan; (H.-H.W.); (Y.-C.L.); (Y.-H.W.)
| | - Yu-Nung Lin
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (C.-D.H.); (N.M.); (Y.-N.L.); (F.S.); (F.S.)
| | - Ferry Saputra
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (C.-D.H.); (N.M.); (Y.-N.L.); (F.S.); (F.S.)
| | - Fiorency Santoso
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (C.-D.H.); (N.M.); (Y.-N.L.); (F.S.); (F.S.)
- Master Program of Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
| | - Kelvin H.-C. Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan; (H.-H.W.); (Y.-C.L.); (Y.-H.W.)
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22
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Bell SM, De Marco M, Barnes K, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L, Blackburn DJ, Mortiboys H, Venneri A. Deficits in Mitochondrial Spare Respiratory Capacity Contribute to the Neuropsychological Changes of Alzheimer's Disease. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10020032. [PMID: 32365522 PMCID: PMC7354560 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10020032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is diagnosed using neuropsychological testing, supported by amyloid and tau biomarkers and neuroimaging abnormalities. The cause of neuropsychological changes is not clear since they do not correlate with biomarkers. This study investigated if changes in cellular metabolism in AD correlate with neuropsychological changes. Fibroblasts were taken from 10 AD patients and 10 controls. Metabolic assessment included measuring total cellular ATP, extracellular lactate, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function. All participants were assessed with neuropsychological testing and brain structural MRI. AD patients had significantly lower scores in delayed and immediate recall, semantic memory, phonemic fluency and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). AD patients also had significantly smaller left hippocampal, left parietal, right parietal and anterior medial prefrontal cortical grey matter volumes. Fibroblast MMP, mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity (MSRC), glycolytic reserve, and extracellular lactate were found to be lower in AD patients. MSRC/MMP correlated significantly with semantic memory, immediate and delayed episodic recall. Correlations between MSRC and delayed episodic recall remained significant after controlling for age, education and brain reserve. Grey matter volumes did not correlate with MRSC/MMP. AD fibroblast metabolic assessment may represent an emergent disease biomarker of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Heather Mortiboys
- Correspondence: (H.M.); (A.V.); Tel.: +44-(0)114-222-2259 (H.M.); +44-(0)114-271-3430 (A.V.)
| | - Annalena Venneri
- Correspondence: (H.M.); (A.V.); Tel.: +44-(0)114-222-2259 (H.M.); +44-(0)114-271-3430 (A.V.)
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23
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Ishikawa Y, Pieczonka TD, Bragiel-Pieczonka AM, Seta H, Ohkuri T, Sasanuma Y, Nonaka Y. Long-Term Oral Administration of LLHK, LHK, and HK Alters Gene Expression Profile and Restores Age-Dependent Atrophy and Dysfunction of Rat Salivary Glands. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8020038. [PMID: 32093221 PMCID: PMC7168239 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8020038] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is caused by a reduction in salivary secretion and by changes in the composition of saliva associated with the malfunction of salivary glands. Xerostomia decreases quality of life. In the present study, we investigated the effects of peptides derived from β-lactoglobulin C on age-dependent atrophy, gene expression profiles, and the dysfunction of salivary glands. Long-term oral administration of Leu57-Leu58-His59-Lys60 (LLHK), Leu58-His59-Lys60 (LHK) and His59-Lys60 (HK) peptides induced salivary secretion and prevented and/or reversed the age-dependent atrophy of salivary glands in older rats. The transcripts of 78 genes were upregulated and those of 81 genes were downregulated by more than 2.0-fold (p ≤ 0.05) after LHK treatment. LHK upregulated major salivary protein genes such as proline-rich proteins (Prpmp5, Prb3, Prp2, Prb1, Prp15), cystatins (Cst5, Cyss, Vegp2), amylases (Amy1a, Amy2a3), and lysozyme (Lyzl1), suggesting that LLHK, LHK, and HK restored normal salivary function. The AP-2 transcription factor gene (Tcfap2b) was also induced significantly by LHK treatment. These results suggest that LLHK, LHK, and HK-administration may prevent and/or reverse the age-dependent atrophy and functional decline of salivary glands by affecting gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Ishikawa
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan; (T.D.P.); (A.M.B.-P.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +80-3928-9628
| | - Tomasz D Pieczonka
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan; (T.D.P.); (A.M.B.-P.)
| | - Aneta M Bragiel-Pieczonka
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan; (T.D.P.); (A.M.B.-P.)
| | - Harumichi Seta
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd., Suntory World Research Center, 8-1-1 Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (H.S.); (T.O.); (Y.S.); (Y.N.)
| | - Tadahiro Ohkuri
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd., Suntory World Research Center, 8-1-1 Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (H.S.); (T.O.); (Y.S.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yumi Sasanuma
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd., Suntory World Research Center, 8-1-1 Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (H.S.); (T.O.); (Y.S.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yuji Nonaka
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd., Suntory World Research Center, 8-1-1 Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (H.S.); (T.O.); (Y.S.); (Y.N.)
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24
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Kardos J, Héja L, Simon Á, Jablonkai I, Kovács R, Jemnitz K. Copper signalling: causes and consequences. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:71. [PMID: 30348177 PMCID: PMC6198518 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0277-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper-containing enzymes perform fundamental functions by activating dioxygen (O2) and therefore allowing chemical energy-transfer for aerobic metabolism. The copper-dependence of O2 transport, metabolism and production of signalling molecules are supported by molecular systems that regulate and preserve tightly-bound static and weakly-bound dynamic cellular copper pools. Disruption of the reducing intracellular environment, characterized by glutathione shortage and ambient Cu(II) abundance drives oxidative stress and interferes with the bidirectional, copper-dependent communication between neurons and astrocytes, eventually leading to various brain disease forms. A deeper understanding of of the regulatory effects of copper on neuro-glia coupling via polyamine metabolism may reveal novel copper signalling functions and new directions for therapeutic intervention in brain disorders associated with aberrant copper metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianna Kardos
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117 Hungary
| | - László Héja
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117 Hungary
| | - Ágnes Simon
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117 Hungary
| | - István Jablonkai
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117 Hungary
| | - Richard Kovács
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katalin Jemnitz
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117 Hungary
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Zhang H, Wang Y, He Z. Glycine-Histidine-Lysine (GHK) Alleviates Neuronal Apoptosis Due to Intracerebral Hemorrhage via the miR-339-5p/VEGFA Pathway. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:644. [PMID: 30294253 PMCID: PMC6158323 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycine-histidine-lysine (GHK) is a human tripeptide that enhances wound healing, exerts neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative disease, and improves tissue regeneration. This study examined whether GHK can alleviate injury due to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Briefly, adult Wistar rats in GHK pretreatment groups were injected with GHK (1 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) every 24 h for 3 days. Water content and intact neurons were detected in the rats 3 days after ICH, and the neurological deficit scores were examined in the rats at 4, 24, 72, and 168 h after ICH. Apoptosis was evaluated via caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, Nissl staining, and TUNEL assay. We also examined the effect of GHK on the expression of related proteins in SH-SY5Y cells via Western blotting. The expression of miR-339-5p was examined via real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. GHK improved neurological deficits, reduced water content in the brain and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in ICH rats. It also prevented the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells with hemin treatment. Furthermore, GHK downregulated miR-339-5p expression, and overexpression of miR-339-5p partially reversed the anti-apoptotic effects of GHK in SH-SY5Y cells. Our findings suggest that the p38 MAPK pathway is involved in the GHK-induced downregulation of miR-339-5p, and that the miR-339-5p/VEGFA axis plays a role in preventing neuronal apoptosis following ICH injury. These findings indicate that GHK may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for ICH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhiyi He
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, China
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Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19071987. [PMID: 29986520 PMCID: PMC6073405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The human peptide GHK (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) has multiple biological actions, all of which, according to our current knowledge, appear to be health positive. It stimulates blood vessel and nerve outgrowth, increases collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, as well as supports the function of dermal fibroblasts. GHK’s ability to improve tissue repair has been demonstrated for skin, lung connective tissue, boney tissue, liver, and stomach lining. GHK has also been found to possess powerful cell protective actions, such as multiple anti-cancer activities and anti-inflammatory actions, lung protection and restoration of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fibroblasts, suppression of molecules thought to accelerate the diseases of aging such as NFκB, anti-anxiety, anti-pain and anti-aggression activities, DNA repair, and activation of cell cleansing via the proteasome system. Recent genetic data may explain such diverse protective and healing actions of one molecule, revealing multiple biochemical pathways regulated by GHK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren Pickart
- R&D Skin Biology; 4122 Factoria Boulevard SE, Suite Number 200, Bellevue, WA 98006, USA.
| | - Anna Margolina
- R&D Skin Biology; 4122 Factoria Boulevard SE, Suite Number 200, Bellevue, WA 98006, USA.
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Bagheri S, Squitti R, Haertlé T, Siotto M, Saboury AA. Role of Copper in the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease Compared to Other Metals. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 9:446. [PMID: 29472855 PMCID: PMC5810277 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid plaques in patients' brain tissue. The plaques are mainly made of β-amyloid peptides and trace elements including Zn2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+. Some studies have shown that AD can be considered a type of metal dyshomeostasis. Among metal ions involved in plaques, numerous studies have focused on copper ions, which seem to be one of the main cationic elements in plaque formation. The involvement of copper in AD is controversial, as some studies show a copper deficiency in AD, and consequently a need to enhance copper levels, while other data point to copper overload and therefore a need to reduce copper levels. In this paper, the role of copper ions in AD and some contradictory reports are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soghra Bagheri
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Rosanna Squitti
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Thomas Haertlé
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- UR 1268 Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Equipe Fonctions et Interactions des Protéines, Nantes, France
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Management, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Ali A. Saboury
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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