Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-β in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma oxidative metabolism.

Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β) induces tumor cell migration and invasion. However, its role in inducing metabolic reprogramming is poorly understood. Here we analyzed the metabolic profle of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells that show diferences in TGF-β expression. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidifcation rate (ECAR), metabolomics and transcriptomics were performed. Results indicated that the switch from an epithelial to a mesenchymal/migratory phenotype in HCC cells is characterized by reduced mitochondrial respiration, without signifcant diferences in glycolytic activity. Concomitantly, enhanced glutamine anaplerosis and biosynthetic use of TCA metabolites were proved through analysis of metabolite levels, as well as metabolic fuxes from U-13C6-Glucose and U-13C5-Glutamine. This correlated with increase in glutaminase 1 (GLS1) expression, whose inhibition reduced cell migration. Experiments where TGF-β function was activated with extracellular TGF-β1 or inhibited through TGF-β receptor I silencing showed that TGF-β induces a switch from oxidative metabolism, coincident with a decrease in OCR and the upregulation of glutamine transporter Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 5 (SLC7A5) and GLS1. TGF-β also regulated the expression of key genes involved in the fux of glycolytic intermediates and fatty acid metabolism. Together, these results indicate that autocrine activation of the TGF-β pathway regulates oxidative metabolism in HCC cells

Cd98hc (slc3A2) sustains amino acid and nucleotide availability for cell cycle progression

CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) forms heteromeric amino acid (AA) transporters by interacting with different light chains. Cancer cells overexpress CD98hc-transporters in order to meet their increased nutritional and antioxidant demands, since they provide branched-chain AA (BCAA) and aromatic AA (AAA) availability while protecting cells from oxidative stress. Here we show that BCAA and AAA shortage phenocopies the inhibition of mTORC1 signalling, protein synthesis and cell proliferation caused by CD98hc ablation. Furthermore, our data indicate that CD98hc sustains glucose uptake and glycolysis, and, as a consequence, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Thus, loss of CD98hc triggers a dramatic reduction in the nucleotide pool, which leads to replicative stress in these cells, as evidenced by the enhanced DNA Damage Response (DDR), S-phase delay and diminished rate of mitosis, all recovered by nucleoside supplementation. In addition, proper BCAA and AAA availability sustains the expression of the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. In this regard, BCAA and AAA shortage results in decreased content of deoxynucleotides that triggers replicative stress, also recovered by nucleoside supplementation. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that CD98hc plays a central role in AA and glucose cellular nutrition, redox homeostasis and nucleotide availability, all key for cell proliferation

Dysfunctional LAT2 amino acid transporter is associated with cataract in mouse and humans

Cataract, the loss of ocular lens transparency, accounts for ∼50% of worldwide blindness and has been associated with water and solute transport dysfunction across lens cellular barriers. We show that neutral amino acid antiporter LAT2 (Slc7a8) and uniporter TAT1 (Slc16a10) are expressed on mouse ciliary epithelium and LAT2 also in lens epithelium. Correspondingly, deletion of LAT2 induced a dramatic decrease in lens essential amino acid levels that was modulated by TAT1 defect. Interestingly, the absence of LAT2 led to increased incidence of cataract in mice, in particular in older females, and a synergistic effect was observed with simultaneous lack of TAT1. Screening SLC7A8 in patients diagnosed with congenital or age-related cataract yielded one homozygous single nucleotide deletion segregating in a family with congenital cataract. Expressed in HeLa cells, this LAT2 mutation did not support amino acid uptake. Heterozygous LAT2 variants were also found in patients with cataract some of which showed a reduced transport function when expressed in HeLa cells. Whether heterozygous LAT2 variants may contribute to the pathology of cataract needs to be further investigated. Overall, our results suggest that defects of amino acid transporter LAT2 are implicated in cataract formation, a situation that may be aggravated by TAT1 defects

Tumors defective in homologous recombination rely on oxidative metabolism: relevance to treatments with PARP inhibitors

Mitochondrial metabolism and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the acquisition of DNA mutations and genomic instability in cancer. How genomic instability influences the metabolic capacity of cancer cells is nevertheless poorly understood. Here, we show that homologous recombination-defective (HRD) cancers rely on oxidative metabolism to supply NAD+ and ATP for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-dependent DNA repair mechanisms. Studies in breast and ovarian cancer HRD models depict a metabolic shift that includes enhanced expression of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway and its key components and a decline in the glycolytic Warburg phenotype. Hence, HRD cells are more sensitive to metformin and NAD+ concentration changes. On the other hand, shifting from an OXPHOS to a highly glycolytic metabolism interferes with the sensitivity to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in these HRD cells. This feature is associated with a weak response to PARP inhibition in patient-derived xenografts, emerging as a new mechanism to determine PARPi sensitivity. This study shows a mechanistic link between two major cancer hallmarks, which in turn suggests novel possibilities for specifically treating HRD cancers with OXPHOS inhibitors

Desarrollo de métodos de determinación e identificación de antibióticos y sus metabolitos en alimentos de origen animal por LC-MS y LC-MS/MS

[spa] Los antibióticos se usan en medicina veterinaria para curar enfermedades, para prevenirlas (uso profiláctico) y como promotores del crecimiento, aunque este último uso está prohibido en la Unión Europea desde 2006. La presencia de residuos de antibióticos en muestras alimentarias de origen animal supone un riesgo para la salud de los consumidores. Estos residuos pueden provocar problemas de alergias y toxicidad en individuos sensibles y generar resistencia bacteriana. Con el fin de proteger la seguridad alimentaria del consumidor, la UE estableció en la Regulación 2377/90/EC, unos límites máximos de residuos (MRL), es decir, concentraciones máximas de fármaco que pueden estar presentes en los alimentos de origen animal, para que sean seguros para el consumo humano. Durante esta tesis doctoral se han desarrollado y validado cuatro métodos multiresiduo para la determinación de quinolonas y β-lactamas (penicilinas y cefalosporinas) en leche de vaca siguiendo la normativa Europea 657/2002 y la guía de la FDA. Los métodos optimizados se basan en distintos tratamientos de muestra (extracción en fase sólida (SPE), microextracción líquido líquido dispersiva (DLLME) y extracción asistida por ultrasonidos seguida de una extracción en fase sólida dispersiva (USE-d-SPE)) y se analizaron por cromatografía de líquidos acoplada a la espectrometría de masas en tándem (LC-MS/MS). Con el fin de que la leche pueda ser apta para el consumo humano, es necesario que pase un determinado tiempo entre la última administración del antibiótico al animal y la recogida de la leche, con el fin de que pueda eliminarse del organismo los antibióticos y sus metabolitos. Si no se respeta este tiempo, la leche procedente de vacas medicadas con antibióticos puede contener residuos de éstos, además de compuestos resultantes de la metabolización en el animal. Por otro lado, también requiere que se eliminen los microorganismos patógenos a través de la aplicación de determinados tratamientos térmicos. Es de especial interés el estudio de la metabolización de los antibióticos y como pueden afectar los tratamientos térmicos sobre éstos, dando lugar a productos de transformación (TPs). Al igual que los antibióticos administrados, tanto los metabolitos como los TPs pueden provocar efectos adversos como toxicidad, alergias y en el caso de mantener la actividad antibacteriana, resistencia bacteriana. Así, en el segundo bloque de esta tesis, se ha estudiado la metabolización de diferentes antibióticos (ENR, CIP, DIF, SAR, AMOX, PENG, PIR y TIO), y la influencia de los tratamientos térmicos en la estructura de los antibióticos. Para conseguir este objetivo se han analizado diferentes muestras de leche fortificadas con quinolonas y β-lactamas, y también se han estudiado muestras de leche procedentes de animales medicados con enrofloxacina (ENR) y benzilpenicilina (PENG) y recogidas durante los tres días de tratamiento farmacológico y durante los cuatro días posteriores a la finalización de éste. Las muestras se analizaron mediante LC-ToF y LC-LTQ-Orbitrap. Se han determinado y caracterizado más de 60 TPs y metabolitos, siendo más de la mitad descritos por primera vez.[eng] The presence of antibiotic residues in food samples from animal origin is a risk to consumer health. These residues can cause allergies and toxicity problems in sensitive individuals and create bacterial resistance. In order to protect food consumer safety, the EU established in Regulation 2377/90/EC, a maximum residue levels (MRL). During this PhD thesis four multi-residue methods for the determination of quinolones and β-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins) in cow's milk according to the European regulation 657/2002 and FDA guidance have been developed and validated. Optimized methods are based on various sample treatments (solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid dispersive liquid microextraction (DLLME) and ultrasound assisted extraction followed by a dispersive solid phase extraction (USE-d-SPE)) and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS / MS). If a cow medicated is milked too soon, before all antibiotic and its metabolites are eliminated from the body, residues of the administered antibiotic and their metabolites can be found in the milk. These can pass to humans through the food chain causing health problems such as allergies, toxicity and resistant bacterial strains. On the other hand, milk is treated thermally (pasteurisation and sterilization) before human consumption to eliminate pathogens microorganisms. These processes can affect the residues of antibiotics and their metabolites modifying their structures and given several transformation products (TPs). Thus, in the second part of this thesis, we have studied the metabolism of different antibiotics (ENR, CIP, DIF, SAR, AMOX, PENG, PIR and TIO) and the influence of heat treatment on the structure of antibiotics. To achieve this goal different samples of milk fortified with quinolones and β-lactams have been analyzed. Samples of milk from animals medicated with enrofloxacin (ENR) and benzylpenicillin (PENG) and collected during the three-day of pharmacologic treatment and during the four days following the end of it have also studied. Samples were analyzed by LC-ToF and LC-LTQ-Orbitrap. They have been identified and 60 characterized TPs and metabolites, over half first described

Comparative study of the LC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS for the multi-residue analysis of quinolones, penicillins and cephalosporins in cow milk, and validation according to the regulation 2002/657/EC

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an analytical method to simultaneously determine European Union-regulated beta-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins) and quinolones in cow milk. The procedure involves a new solid phase extraction (SPE) to clean-up and pre-concentrate the three series of antibiotics before analysis by liquid chromatography¿tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography¿tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). LC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS techniques were also compared. The method was validated according to the Directive 2002/657/EC and subsequently applied to 56 samples of raw cow milk supplied by the Laboratori Interprofessional Lleter de Catalunya (ALLIC) (Laboratori Interprofessional Lleter de Catalunya, Control Laboratory Interprofessional of Milk of Catalunya)

Residues of b-lactams and quinolones in tissues and milk samples. Confirmatory analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The aim of this work is to optimize and validate methods for the multiresidue determination of series of families of antibiotics as quinolones, penicillins and cephalosporins included in European regulation in food samples using LC-MS/MS. Different extraction techniques and clean-up applied to antibiotics in meat were compared. The quality parameters were established according with EU guideline. The developed method was applied to 49 positive raw milk samples from animal medicated with different antibiotics; the 63% of the analyzed samples were found to be compliant. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Identification of metabolites and thermal transformation products of quinolones in raw cow milk by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

The presence of residues of antibiotics, metabolites, and thermal transformation products (TPs), produced during thermal treatment to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms in milk, could represent a risk for people. Cow"s milk samples spiked with enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), difloxacin (DIF), and sarafloxacin (SAR) and milk samples from cows medicated with ENR were submitted to several thermal treatments. The milk samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to find and identify TPs and metabolites. In this work, 27 TPs of 4 quinolones and 24 metabolites of ENR were found. Some of these compounds had been reported previously, but others were characterized for the first time, including lactose-conjugated CIP, the formamidation reaction for CIP and SAR, and hydroxylation or ketone formation to produce three different isomers for all quinolones studied

Identification of metabolites and thermal transformation products of quinolones in raw cow milk by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry.

The presence of residues of antibiotics, metabolites, and thermal transformation products (TPs), produced during thermal treatment to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms in milk, could represent a risk for people. Cow"s milk samples spiked with enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), difloxacin (DIF), and sarafloxacin (SAR) and milk samples from cows medicated with ENR were submitted to several thermal treatments. The milk samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to find and identify TPs and metabolites. In this work, 27 TPs of 4 quinolones and 24 metabolites of ENR were found. Some of these compounds had been reported previously, but others were characterized for the first time, including lactose-conjugated CIP, the formamidation reaction for CIP and SAR, and hydroxylation or ketone formation to produce three different isomers for all quinolones studied

Residues of b-lactams and quinolones in tissues and milk samples. Confirmatory analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The aim of this work is to optimize and validate methods for the multiresidue determination of series of families of antibiotics as quinolones, penicillins and cephalosporins included in European regulation in food samples using LC-MS/MS. Different extraction techniques and clean-up applied to antibiotics in meat were compared. The quality parameters were established according with EU guideline. The developed method was applied to 49 positive raw milk samples from animal medicated with different antibiotics; the 63% of the analyzed samples were found to be compliant. __________________________________________________________________________________________