Activation of acid sphingomyelinase and its inhibition by the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate pathway: Key events in Escherichia coli-elicited apoptosis of dendritic cells

Depletion of dendritic cells (DCs) via apoptosis contributes to sepsis-induced immune suppression. The mechanisms leading to DC apoptosis during sepsis are not known. In this study we report that immature DCs undergo apoptosis when treated with high numbers of Escherichia coli. This effect was mimicked by high concentrations of LPS. Apoptosis was accompanied by generation of ceramide through activation of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), was prevented by inhibitors of this enzyme, and was restored by exogenous ceramide. Compared with immature DCs, mature DCs expressed significantly reduced levels of A-SMase, did not generate ceramide in response to E. coli or LPS, and were insensitive to E. coli- and LPS-triggered apoptosis. However, sensitivity to apoptosis was restored by addition of exogenous A-SMase or ceramide. Furthermore, inhibition of A-SMase activation and ceramide generation was found to be the mechanism through which the immune-modulating messenger NO protects immature DCs from the apoptogenic efects of E. coli and LPS. NO acted through formation of cGMP and stimulation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The relevance of A-SMase and its inhibition by NO/cGMP were confirmed in a mouse model of LPS-induced sepsis. DC apoptosis was significantly higher in inducible NO synthase-deficient mice than in wild-type animals and was significantly reduced by treatment ex vivo with NO, cGMP, or the A-SMase inhibitor imipramine. Thus, A-SMase plays a central role in E. coli/LPS-induced DC apoptosis and its inhibition by NO, and it might be a target of new therapeutic approaches to sepsis

Nitric oxide confers therapeutic activity to dendritic cells in a mouse model of melanoma

Susceptibility of dendritic cells (DCs) to tumor-induced apoptosis reduces their efficacy in cancer therapy. Here we show that delivery within exponentially growing B16 melanomas of DCs treated ex vivo with nitric oxide (NO), released by the NO donor (z)-1-[2-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA-NO), significantly reduced tumor growth, with cure of 37% of animals. DETA-NO-treated DCs became resistant to tumor-induced apoptosis because DETA-NO prevented tumor-induced changes in the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Bcl-xL; activation of caspase-9; and a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential. DETA-NO also increased DC cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and DC ability to trigger T-lymphocyte proliferation. All of the effects of DETA-NO were mediated through cGMP generation. NO and NO-generating drugs may therefore be used to increase the anticancer efficacy of DCs

Wild-type huntingtin protects from apoptosis upstream of caspase-3

Expansion of a polyglutamine sequence in the N terminus of huntingtin is the gain-of-function event that causes Huntington's disease. This mutation affects primarily the medium-size spiny neurons of the striatum. Huntingtin is expressed in many neuronal and non-neuronal cell types, implying a more general function for the wild-type protein. Here we report that wild-type huntingtin acts by protecting CNS cells from a variety of apoptotic stimuli, including serum withdrawal, death receptors, and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologs. This protection may take place at the level of caspase-9 activation. The full-length protein also modulates the toxicity of the poly-Q expansion. Cells expressing full-length mutant protein are susceptible to fewer death stimuli than cells expressing truncated mutant huntingtin

Wild-type huntingtin protects from apoptosis upstream of caspase-3

Expansion of a polyglutamine sequence in the N terminus of huntingtin is the gain-of-function event that causes Huntington's disease. This mutation affects primarily the medium-size spiny neurons of the striatum. Huntingtin is expressed in many neuronal and non-neuronal cell types, implying a more general function for the wild-type protein. Here we report that wild-type huntingtin acts by protecting CNS cells from a variety of apoptotic stimuli, including serum withdrawal, death receptors, and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologs. This protection may take place at the level of caspase-9 activation. The full-length protein also modulates the toxicity of the poly-Q expansion. Cells expressing full-length mutant protein are susceptible to fewer death stimuli than cells expressing truncated mutant huntingtin

Ozonated autohemotherapy: protection of kidneys from ischemia in rats subjected to unilateral nephrectomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ozonated autohemotherapy (OA) has been previously successfully used in the treatment of patients affected by peripheral occlusive arterial disease. OA consists of an intrafemoral reinfusion of autologous blood previously exposed to a mixture of oxygen/ozone (O₂/O₃). This study analyzes the effects of OA in protecting rat kidney from ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed OA 30 min before the induction of 60 min renal ischemia or at the induction of 60 min postischemic reperfusion in rats subjected to unilateral nephrectomy. In addition, to evidence the possible protection induced by O₂/O₃on endothelial functions, the present study analyzes the in vitro effects of O₂/O₃on oxygen consumption by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>1) OA preserves rat kidney functions and architecture, as demonstrated by the improved levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and by histology; 2) such protection does not correlate with the increase of plasmatic nitric oxide, but is compatible with a focal renal increase of renal βNADPH-diaphorase; 3) treatment of HUVEC with O₂/O₃significantly increases both the rate of oxygen consumption and the mitochondrial activity assessed by confocal microscopy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The preservation of the mitochondrial activity of endothelium could in vivo limit the endothelial dysfunction provoked by the Isc or Isc/R processes.</p

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and Nitric Oxide (NO) are Important Mediators of Reflux-induced Cell Signalling in Esophageal Cells

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in both DNA damage induction and aberrant cell signalling in various tissue and cell backgrounds. We investigated here the role of iNOS and NO in DNA damage induction and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling in esophageal cells in vitro. As esophageal adenocarcinoma develops in a background of Barrett’s esophagus secondary to reflux disease, it is possible that inflammatory mediators like NO may be important in esophageal cancer development. We show that reflux components like stomach acid and bile acids [deoxycholic acid (DCA)] can induce iNOS gene and protein expression and produce NO generation in esophageal cells, using real-time PCR, western blotting and NO sensitive fluorescent probes, respectively. This up-regulation of iNOS expression was not dependent on NF-κB activity. DCA-induced DNA damage was independent of NF-κB and only partially dependent on iNOS and NO, as measured by the micronucleus assay. These same reflux constituents also activated the oncogenic transcription factor NF-κB, as measured by transcription factor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gene expression studies with NF-κB linked genes (e.g. interleukin-8). Importantly, we show here for the first time that basal levels of NF-κB activity (and possibly acid and DCA-induced NF-κB) are dependent on iNOS/NO and this may lead to a positive feedback loop whereby induced iNOS is upstream of NF-κB, hence prolonging and potentially amplifying this signalling, presumably through NO activation of NF-κB. Furthermore, we confirm increased protein levels of iNOS in esophageal adenocarcinoma and, therefore, in neoplastic development in the esophagus

Zinc uptake promotes myoblast differentiation via Zip7 transporter and activation of Akt signalling transduction pathway

[EN] Myogenic regeneration occurs through a chain of events beginning with the output of satellite cells from quiescent state, formation of competent myoblasts and later fusion and differentiation into myofibres. Traditionally, growth factors are used to stimulate muscle regeneration but this involves serious off-target effects, including alterations in cell homeostasis and cancer. In this work, we have studied the use of zinc to trigger myogenic differentiation. We show that zinc promotes myoblast proliferation, differentiation and maturation of myofibres. We demonstrate that this process occurs through the PI3K/Akt pathway, via zinc stimulation of transporter Zip7. Depletion of zinc transporter Zip7 by RNA interference shows reduction of both PI3K/Akt signalling and a significant reduction of multinucleated myofibres and myotubes development. Moreover, we show that mature myofibres, obtained through stimulation with high concentrations of zinc, accumulate zinc and so we hypothesise their function as zinc reservoirs into the cell.P.R. and R.S. acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) (MAT2015-69315-C3-1-R). P.R. acknowledges the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, CIBER Actions and financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund. R.S. acknowledges the support from the Spanish MECD through the PRX16/00208 grant. MSS acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC - HealInSynergy 306990) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC - EP/P001114/1)Mnatsakanyan, H.; Sabater I Serra, R.; Rico Tortosa, PM.; Salmerón Sánchez, M. (2018). Zinc uptake promotes myoblast differentiation via Zip7 transporter and activation of Akt signalling transduction pathway. Scientific Reports. 8:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32067-0S1148Frontera, W. R. & Ochala, J. Skeletal muscle: a brief review of structure and function. Calcif. Tissue Int. 96, 183–195 (2015).Wolfe, R. R., Frontera, W. R. & Ochala, J. The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84, 475–82 (2006).Sciorati, C., Rigamonti, E., Manfredi, A. A. & Rovere-Querini, P. Cell death, clearance and immunity in the skeletal muscle. Cell Death Differ. 23, 927–937 (2016).Wang, Y. X. & Rudnicki, M. A. Satellite cells, the engines of muscle repair. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 13, 127–133 (2011).Yin, H., Price, F. & Rudnicki, M. A. Satellite cells and the muscle stem cell niche. Physiol. Rev. 93, 23–67 (2013).Dhawan, J. & Rando, T. A. Stem cells in postnatal myogenesis: Molecular mechanisms of satellite cell quiescence, activation and replenishment. Trends Cell Biol. 15, 666–673 (2005).Yun, K. & Wold, B. Skeletal muscle determination and differentiation: Story of a core regulatory network and its context. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 8, 877–889 (1996).Gharaibeh, B. et al. Biological approaches to improve skeletal muscle healing after injury and disease. Birth Defects Res. Part C Embryo Today Rev. 96, 82–94 (2012).Schiaffino, S. & Mammucari, C. Regulation of skeletal muscle growth by the IGF1-Akt/PKB pathway: insights from genetic models. Skelet. Muscle 1, 4 (2011).Sandri, M. Signaling in muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. Physiology (Bethesda). 23, 160–70 (2008).Karalaki, M., Fili, S., Philippou, A. & Koutsilieris, M. Muscle regeneration: cellular and molecular events. In Vivo 23, 779–96 (2009).Fujio, Y. et al. Cell cycle withdrawal promotes myogenic induction of Akt, a positive modulator of myocyte survival. Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 5073–82 (1999).Wilson, E. M. & Rotwein, P. Control of MyoD function during initiation of muscle differentiation by an autocrine signaling pathway activated by insulin-like growth factor-II. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 29962–29971 (2006).Sun, L., Liu, L., Yang, X. & Wu, Z. Akt binds prohibitin 2 and relieves its repression of MyoD and muscle differentiation. J. Cell Sci. 117, 3021–3029 (2004).Milner, D. & Cameron, J. Muscle repair and regeneration: stem cells, scaffolds, and the contributions of skeletal muscle to amphibian limb regeneration. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 367, 133–159 (2013).Liu, C. et al. PI3K/Akt signaling transduction pathway is involved in rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by apelin-13. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin 42, 396–402 (2010).Eriksson, M., Taskinen, M. & Leppä, S. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Activation of c-Jun and c-Fos is required for Neuronal differentiation but not for Growth and Stress Reposne in PC12 cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 207, 12–22 (2006).Arsic, N. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor stimulates skeletal muscle regeneration in Vivo. Mol. Ther. 10, 844–854 (2004).Borselli, C. et al. Functional muscle regeneration with combined delivery of angiogenesis and myogenesis factors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 3287–3292 (2010).Hanft, J. R. et al. Phase I trial on the safety of topical rhVEGF on chronic neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. J. Wound Care 17(30–2), 34–7 (2008).Simón-Yarza, T. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor-delivery systems for cardiac repair: An overview. Theranostics 2, 541–552 (2012).Briquez, P. S., Hubbell, J. A. & Martino, M. M. Extracellular Matrix-Inspired Growth Factor Delivery Systems for Skin Wound Healing. Adv. Wound Care 4, 479–489 (2015).Barthel, A., Ostrakhovitch, E. A., Walter, P. L., Kampkötter, A. & Klotz, L. O. Stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling by copper and zinc ions: Mechanisms and consequences. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 463, 175–182 (2007).Ostrakhovitch, E. A., Lordnejad, M. R., Schliess, F., Sies, H. & Klotz, L.-O. Copper ions strongly activate the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway independent of the generation of reactive oxygen species. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 397, 232–239 (2002).Kaur, K., Gupta, R., Saraf, S. A. & Saraf, S. K. Zinc: The metal of life. Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf. 13, 358–376 (2014).Coleman, J. E. Zinc proteins: enzymes, storage proteins, transcription factors, and replication proteins. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 61, 897–946 (1992).Fukada, T. & Kambe, T. Molecular and genetic features of zinc transporters in physiology and pathogenesis. Metallomics 3, 662–674 (2011).Murakami, M. & Hirano, T. Intracellular zinc homeostasis and zinc signaling. Cancer Sci. 99, 1515–1522 (2008).Hogstrand, C., Kille, P., Nicholson, R. I. & Taylor, K. M. Zinc transporters and cancer: a potential role for ZIP7 as a hub for tyrosine kinase activation. Trends Mol. Med. 15, 101–111 (2009).Kolenko, V., Teper, E., Kutikov, A. & Uzzo, R. Zinc and zinc transporters in prostate carcinogenesis. Nat. Rev. Urol. 10, 219–26 (2013).Myers, S. A., Nield, A., Chew, G. S. & Myers, M. A. The zinc transporter, Slc39a7 (Zip7) is implicated in glycaemic control in skeletal muscle cells. Plos One 8 (2013).Kambe, T., Tsuji, T., Hashimoto, A. & Itsumura, N. The Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Roles of Zinc Transporters in Zinc Homeostasis and Metabolism. Physiol. Rev. 95, 749–784 (2015).Jinno, N., Nagata, M. & Takahashi, T. Marginal zinc deficiency negatively affects recovery from muscle injury in mice. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 158, 65–72 (2014).Taylor, K. M., Hiscox, S., Nicholson, R. I., Hogstrand, C. & Kille, P. Protein Kinase CK2 Triggers Cytosolic Zinc Signaling Pathways by Phosphorylation of Zinc Channel ZIP7. Sci. Signal. 5, ra11–ra11 (2012).Yamasaki, S. et al. Zinc is a novel intracellular second messenger. J. Cell Biol. 177, 637–45 (2007).Sumitani, S., Goya, K., Testa, J. R., Kouhara, H. & Kasayama, S. Akt1 and Akt2 differently regulate muscle creatine kinase and myogenin gene transcription in insulin-induced differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Endocrinology 143, 820–828 (2002).Ohashi, K. et al. Zinc promotes proliferation and activation of myogenic cells via the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling cascade. Exp. Cell Res. 333, 228–237 (2015).Chesters, J. K. In Zinc in human biology 53, 109–118 (1989).Burattini, S. et al. C2C12 murine myoblasts as a model of skeletal muscle development: Morpho-functional characterization. Eur. J. Histochem. 48, 223–233 (2004).Mnatsakanyan, H. et al. Controlled Assembly of Fibronectin Nanofibrils Triggered by Random Copolymer Chemistry. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 18125–18135 (2015).Jeong, J. & Eide, D. J. The SLC39 family of zinc transporters. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 34, 612–619 (2013).Huang, L., Kirschke, C. P., Zhang, Y. & Yan, Y. Y. The ZIP7 gene (Slc39a7) encodes a zinc transporter involved in zinc homeostasis of the Golgi apparatus. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 15456–15463 (2005).Vallee, B. L. & Falchuk, K. H. The biochemical basis of zinc physiology. Physiological reviews 73 (1993).Ganju, N. & Eastman, A. Zinc inhibits Bax and Bak activation and cytochrome c release induced by chemical inducers of apoptosis but not by death-receptor-initiated pathways. Cell Death Differ. 10, 652–61 (2003).Chai, F., Truong-Tran, A. Q., Ho, L. H. & Zalewski, P. D. Regulation of caspase activation and apoptosis by cellular zinc fluxes and zinc deprivation: A review. Immunol. Cell Biol. 77, 272–278 (1999).Smith, P. J., Wiltshire, M., Furon, E., Beattie, J. H. & Errington, R. J. Impact of overexpression of metallothionein-1 on cell cycle progression and zinc toxicity. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 295, C1399–C1408 (2008).Bozym, R. A. et al. Free zinc ions outside a narrow concentration range are toxic to a variety of cells in vitro. Exp. Biol. Med. (Maywood). 235, 741–50 (2010).Plum, L. M., Rink, L. & Hajo, H. The essential toxin: Impact of zinc on human health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7, 1342–1365 (2010).Chen, C.-J. & Liao, S.-L. Zinc toxicity on neonatal cortical neurons: involvement of glutathione chelation. J. Neurochem. 85, 443–453 (2003).Chassot, A. A. et al. Confluence-induced cell cycle exit involves pre-mitotic CDK inhibition by p27Kip1 and cyclin D1 downregulation. Cell Cycle 7, 2038–2046 (2008).Spencer, S. L. et al. XThe proliferation-quiescence decision is controlled by a bifurcation in CDK2 activity at mitotic exit. Cell 155, 369–383 (2013).Walsh, K. & Perlman, H. Cell cycle exit upon myogenic differentiation. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 7, 597–602 (1997).Puri, P. L. & Sartorelli, V. Regulation of muscle regulatory factors by DNA-binding, interacting proteins, and post-transcriptional modifications. Journal of Cellular Physiology 185, 155–173 (2000).Zammit, P. S., Partridge, T. A. & Yablonka-Reuveni, Z. The skeletal muscle satellite cell: the stem cell that came in from the cold. J Histochem Cytochem 54, 1177–1191 (2006).McCord, M. C. & Aizenman, E. The role of intracellular zinc release in aging, oxidative stress, and Alzheimer’s disease. Front. Aging Neurosci. 6, 1–16 (2014).Dirksen, R. T. Sarcoplasmic reticulum–mitochondrial through-space coupling in skeletal muscle. This paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled 14th International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference – Muscles as Molecular and Metabolic. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 34, 389–395 (2009).Groth, C., Sasamura, T., Khanna, M. R., Whitley, M. & Fortini, M. E. Protein trafficking abnormalities in Drosophila tissues with impaired activity of the ZIP7 zinc transporter Catsup. Development 140, 3018–3027 (2013).Ellis, C. D. et al. Zinc and the Msc2 zinc transporter protein are required for endoplasmic reticulum function. J. Cell Biol. 166, 325–335 (2004).Koch, U., Lehal, R. & Radtke, F. Stem cells living with a Notch. Development 140, 689–704 (2013).Gardner, S., Anguiano, M. & Rotwein, P. Defining Akt actions in muscle differentiation. Am. J. Physiol. Physiol. 303, C1292–C1300 (2012).Knight, J. D. & Kothary, R. The myogenic kinome: protein kinases critical to mammalian skeletal myogenesis. Skelet. Muscle 1, 29 (2011).Roth, S. M. Genetic aspects of skeletal muscle strength and mass with relevance to sarcopenia. Bonekey Rep. 1, 1–7 (2012).Mebratu, Y. & Tesfaigzi, Y. How ERK1/2 Activation Controls Cell Proliferation and Cell Death Is Subcellular Localization the Answer? Cell Cycle 8, 1168–1175 (2009)

Direct EPR Detection of Nitric Oxide in Mice Infected with the Pathogenic Mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis

It has been shown that treatment of mice preinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis with spin NO traps (iron complexes with diethyldithiocarbamate) enables detection of large amounts of NO in internal organs 2 and 4 weeks after infection (up to 55–57 μmol/kg of wet lung tissue accumulated with spin NO traps during 30 min). The animals were infected with the drug-sensitive laboratory strain H37Rv and a clinical isolate nonrespondent to antituberculous drugs (the multidrug-resistant strain of M. tuberculosis) obtained from a patient with an active form of tuberculosis. Two weeks after infection with the multidrug-resistant strain, the NO level in the lungs, spleen, liver and kidney increased sharply concurrently with slight lesions of lung tissue. A reverse correlation, i.e., low level of NO in the lungs and other internal organs and extensive injury of lung tissue, was established for H37Rv-infected mice. Four weeks after infection, NO production in the lungs increased dramatically for both M. tuberculosis strains resulting in 80–84% damage of lung tissue. The lesion is suggested to be due to the development of defense mechanisms in M. tuberculosis counteracting NO effects

Synbiotic approach restores intestinal homeostasis and prolongs survival in leukaemia mice with cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that includes muscle wasting and inflammation. As gut microbes influence host immunity and metabolism, we investigated the role of the gut microbiota in the therapeutic management of cancer and associated cachexia. A community-wide analysis of the caecal microbiome in two mouse models of cancer cachexia (acute leukaemia or subcutaneous transplantation of colon cancer cells) identified common microbial signatures, including decreased Lactobacillus spp. and increased Enterobacteriaceae and Parabacteroides goldsteinii/ASF 519. Building on this information, we administered a synbiotic containing inulin-type fructans and live Lactobacillus reuteri 100-23 to leukaemic mice. This treatment restored the Lactobacillus population and reduced the Enterobacteriaceae levels. It also reduced hepatic cancer cell proliferation, muscle wasting and morbidity, and prolonged survival. Administration of the synbiotic was associated with restoration of the expression of antimicrobial proteins controlling intestinal barrier function and gut immunity markers, but did not impact the portal metabolomics imprinting of energy demand. In summary, this study provided evidence that the development of cancer outside the gut can impact intestinal homeostasis and the gut microbial ecosystem and that a synbiotic intervention, by targeting some alterations of the gut microbiota, confers benefits to the host, prolonging survival and reducing cancer proliferation and cachexia