Phosphatidylserine targeting for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases

Cells are able to execute apoptosis by activating series of specific biochemical reactions. One of the most prominent characteristics of cell death is the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), which in healthy cells resides predominantly in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. These features have made PS-externalization a well-explored phenomenon to image cell death for diagnostic purposes. In addition, it was demonstrated that under certain conditions viable cells express PS at their surface such as endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels, stressed tumor cells and hypoxic cardiomyocytes. Hence, PS has become a potential target for therapeutic strategies aiming at Targeted Drug Delivery. In this review we highlight the biomarker PS and various PS-binding compounds that have been employed to target PS for diagnostic purposes. We emphasize the 35 kD human protein annexin A5, that has been developed as a Molecular Imaging agent to measure cell death in vitro, and non-invasively in vivo in animal models and in patients with cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Recently focus has shifted from diagnostic towards therapeutic applications employing annexin A5 in strategies to deliver drugs to cells that express PS at their surface

Differences in lysine adduction by acrolein and methyl vinyl ketone: Implications for cytotoxicity in cultured hepatocytes

Copyright © 2005 American Chemical SocietyAcrolein is a highly toxic environmental pollutant that readily alkylates the -amino group of lysine residues in proteins. In model systems, such chemistry involves sequential addition of two acrolein molecules to a given nitrogen, forming bis-Michael-adducted species that undergo aldol condensation and dehydration to form N-(3-formyl-3,4-dehydropiperidino)lysine. Whether this ability to form cyclic adducts participates in the toxicity of acrolein is unknown. To address this issue, we compared the chemistry of protein adduction by acrolein to that of its close structural analogue methyl vinyl ketone, expecting that the -methyl group would hinder the intramolecular cyclization of any bis-adducted species formed by methyl vinyl ketone. Both acrolein and methyl vinyl ketone displayed comparable protein carbonylating activity during in vitro studies with the model protein bovine serum albumin, confirming the ,,-unsaturated bond of both compounds is an efficient Michael acceptor for protein nucleophiles. However, differences in adduction chemistry became apparent during the use of electrospray ionization-MS to monitor reaction products in a lysine-containing peptide after modification by each compound. For example, although a Schiff base adduct was detected following reaction of the peptide with acrolein, an analogous species was not formed by methyl vinyl ketone. Furthermore, while ions corresponding to mono- and bis-Michael adducts were detected at the N-terminus and lysine residues following peptide modification by both carbonyls, only acrolein modification generated ions attributable to cyclic adducts. Despite these differences in adduction chemistry, in mouse hepatocytes, the two compounds exhibited very comparable abilities to induce rapid, concentration-dependent cell death as well as protein carbonylation. These findings suggest that the acute toxicity of short-chain ,-unsaturated carbonyl compounds involves their ability to form acyclic Michael addition adducts rather than Schiff conjugates or heterocyclic adducts.Lisa M. Kaminskas, Simon M. Pyke and Philip C. Burcha

Translational research for improving the care of familial hypercholesterolemia: The “ten countries study” and beyond

© 2016 Japan Atherosclerosis Society.Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common and serious form of inherited hyperlipidaemia. Dominantly inherited with high penetrance, untreated FH leads to premature death from coronary artery disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis from birth. Despite its importance, there is still a major shortfall in awareness, detection and treatment of FH worldwide. International models of care for FH have recently been published, but their effective implementation requires the garnering of more knowledge about the condition. The “Ten Countries Study” aims to investigate diagnostic, epidemiological and service aspects, as well as physician practices and patient experiences of FH in several countries in the Asia-Pacific Region and the Southern Hemisphere. Five observational studies are being undertaken that will systematically investigate the following aspects of FH: the phenotypic predictors of low-density lipoprotein receptor mutations, the point prevalence in available community populations, current knowledge and clinical practices among primary care physicians, availability and utilisation of services and facilities, and patient perceptions and personal experiences of the condition. The information gathered will inform better clinical practice and will enable the development of country-specific models of care for FH

Elimination of the CDP-ethanolamine Pathway Disrupts Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis*

Phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (ECT) catalyzes the rate-controlling step in a major pathway for the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn). Hepatocyte-specific deletion of the ECT gene in mice resulted in normal appearing animals without overt signs of liver injury or inflammation. The molecular species of PtdEtn in the ECT-deficient livers were significantly altered compared with controls and matched the composition of the phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) pool, illustrating the complete reliance on the PtdSer decarboxylase pathway for PtdEtn synthesis. PtdSer structure was controlled by the substrate specificity of PtdSer synthase that selectively converted phosphatidylcholine molecular species containing stearate paired with a polyunsaturated fatty acid to PtdSer. There was no evidence for fatty acid remodeling of PtdEtn. The elimination of diacylglycerol utilization by the CDP-ethanolamine pathway led to a 10-fold increase in triacylglycerols in the ECT-deficient hepatocytes that became engorged with lipid droplets. Triacylglycerol accumulation was associated with a significant elevation in the expression of the transcription factors and target genes that drive de novo lipogenesis. The absence of the ECT pathway for diacylglycerol utilization at the endoplasmic reticulum triggers increased fatty acid synthesis to support the formation of triacylglycerols leading to liver steatosis

Phosphatidylserine dynamics in cellular membranes

10.1091/mbc.E11-11-0936Molecular Biology of the Cell23112198-2212MBCE