Quantification and Improvement of the Dynamics of Human Serum Albumin and Glycated Human Serum Albumin with Astaxanthin/Astaxanthin-Metal Ion Complexes: Physico-Chemical and Computational Approaches

Glycated human serum albumin (gHSA) undergoes conformational changes and unfolding events caused by free radicals. The glycation process results in a reduced ability of albumin to act as an endogenous scavenger and transporter protein in diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) patients. Astaxanthin (ASX) in native form and complexed with metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) has been shown to prevent gHSA from experiencing unfolding events. Furthermore, it improves protein stability of gHSA and human serum albumin (HSA) as it is shown through molecular dynamics studies. In this study, the ASX/ASX-metal ion complexes were reacted with both HSA/gHSA and analyzed with electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, rheology and zeta sizer (particle size and zeta potential) analysis, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometer measurements, as well as molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and molecular docking calculations. The addition of metal ions to ASX improves its ability to act as an antioxidant and both ASX or ASX-metal ion complexes maintain HSA and gHSA stability while performing their functions.

Changes in Glycated Human Serum Albumin Binding Affinity for Losartan in the Presence of Fatty Acids In Vitro Spectroscopic Analysis

Conformational changes in human serum albumin due to numerous modifications that affect its stability and biological activity should be constantly monitored, especially in elderly patients and those suffering from chronic diseases (which include diabetes, obesity, and hypertension). The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a mixture of fatty acids (FA) on the affinity of losartan (LOS, an angiotensin II receptor (AT₁) blocker used in hypertension, a first-line treatment with coexisting diabetes) for glycated albumin—simulating the state of diabetes in the body. Individual fatty acid mixtures corresponded to the FA content in the physiological state and in various clinical states proceeding with increased concentrations of saturated (FA_S) and unsaturated (FA_US) acids. Based on fluorescence studies, we conclude that LOS interacts with glycated human serum albumin (af)gHSA in the absence and in the presence of fatty acids ((af)gHSA_phys, (af)gHSA_4S, (af)gHSA_8S, (af)gHSA_4US, and (af)gHSA_8US) and quenches the albumin fluorescence intensity via a static quenching mechanism. LOS not only binds to its specific binding sites in albumins but also non-specifically interacts with the hydrophobic fragments of its surface. Incorrect contents of fatty acids in the body affect the drug pharmacokinetics. A higher concentration of both FA_S and FA_US acids in glycated albumin reduces the stability of the complex formed with losartan. The systematic study of FA and albumin interactions using an experimental model mimicking pathological conditions in the body may result in new tools for personalized pharmacotherapy.

Immobilization-Free Electrochemical Sensor Coupled with a Graphene-Oxide-Based Aptasensor for Glycated Albumin Detection

An immobilization-free electrochemical sensor coupled with a graphene oxide (GO)-based aptasensor was developed for glycated human serum albumin (GHSA) detection. The concentration of GHSA was monitored by measuring the electrochemical response of free GO and aptamer-bound GO in the presence of glycated albumin; their currents served as the analytical signals. The electrochemical aptasensor exhibited good performance with a base-10 logarithmic scale. The calibration curve was achieved in the range of 0.01-50 µg/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) was 8.70 ng/mL. The developed method was considered a one-drop measurement process because a fabrication step and the probe-immobilization process were not required. This simple sensor offers a cost-effective, rapid, and sensitive detection method, and could be an alternative approach for determination of GHSA levels.

Development of a Novel ssDNA Sequence for a Glycated Human Serum Albumin and Construction of a Simple Aptasensor System Based on Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO)

Diabetes is one of the top 10 global causes of death. About one in 11 global adults have diabetes. As the disease progresses, the mortality rate increases, and complications can develop. Thus, early detection and effective management of diabetes are especially important. Herein, we present a novel glycated human serum albumin (GHSA) aptamer, i.e., GABAS-01, which has high affinity and specificity. The aptamer was selected by reduced graphene oxide-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichement (rGO-based SELEX) against GHSA. After five rounds of selection through gradually harsher conditions, GABAS-01 with high affinity and specificity for the target was obtained. GABAS-01 was labeled by FAM at the 5'-end and characterized by measuring the recovery of a fluorescence signal that is the result of fluorescence quenching effect of rGO. As a result, GABAS-01 had low-nanomolar Kd values of 1.748 ± 0.227 nM and showed a low limit of detection of 16.40 μg/mL against GHSA. This result shows the potential application of GABAS-01 as an effective on-site detection probe of GHSA. In addition, these properties of GABAS-01 are expected to contribute to detection of GHSA in diagnostic fields.

Spectroscopic Technique-Based Comparative Investigation on the Interaction of Theaflavins with Native and Glycated Human Serum Albumin

Theaflavin is a kind of multi-pharmacological and health beneficial black tea factor. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which theaflavin interacts with glycosylated and non-glycosylated serum albumins and compares their binding properties. Fluorescence and ultraviolet spectra indicated that theaflavin interacted with native and glycated human serum albumin through a static quenching mechanism and had a higher degree of quenching of human serum albumin. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the combinations of theaflavin with native and glycated human serum albumin were a spontaneous endothermic reaction, and the hydrophobic force was a major driving force in the interaction process. Zeta potential, particle size, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism further clarified the effect of theaflavin on the conformation of human serum albumin structure were more pronounced. In addition, site competition experiments and molecular docking technique confirmed that the binding sites of theaflavin on both native and glycated human serum albumin were bound at site II. This study had investigated the effects of glycation on the binding of HSA with polyphenols and the potential nutriology significance of these effects.

Key structural and functional differences between early and advanced glycation products

Most of the studies on advanced glycation end products (AGE) have been carried out with uncharacterized mixtures of AGE, so the observed effects cannot be linked to defined structures. Therefore, we analysed the structural differences between glycated human serum albumin (gHSA), a low glycated protein, and AGE-human serum albumin (AGE-HSA), a high glycated protein, and we compared their effects on endothelial functionality. Specifically, we characterized glycation and composition on both early and advanced stage glycation products of gHSA and AGE-HSA by using the MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry assay. Furthermore, we studied the effects of both types of glycation products on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and in the expression of vascular and intercellular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) on human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC). We also measured the adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to HUVEC. Low concentrations of gHSA enhanced long-lasting ROS production in HUVEC, whereas lower concentrations of AGE-HSA caused the anticipation of the induced extracellular ROS production. Both gHSA and AGE-HSA up-regulated the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 at mRNA levels. Nevertheless, only AGE-HSA increased protein levels and enhanced the adhesion of PBMC to HUVEC monolayers. Functional differences were observed between gHSA and AGE-HSA, causing the latter an anticipation of the pro-oxidant effects in comparison to gHSA. Moreover, although both molecules induced genetic up-regulation of adhesion molecules in HUVEC, only the high glycated protein functionally increased mononuclear cell adhesion to endothelial monolayers. These observations could have important clinical consequences in the development of diabetic vascular complications.