Cytotoxicity of albebetin oligomers depends on cross-β-sheet formation

AbstractPrefibrillar cytotoxicity was suggested as a common amyloid characteristic. We showed two types of albebetin prefibrillar oligomers are formed during incubation at pH 7.3. Initial round-shaped oligomers consist of 10–15 molecules determined by atomic force microscopy, do not bind thioflavin-T and do not affect viability of granular neurons and SH-SY5Y cells. They are converted into ca. 30–40-mers possessing cross-β-sheet and reducing viability of neuronal cells. Neither monomers nor fibrils possess cytotoxicity. We suggest that oligomeric size is important for stabilising cross-β-sheet core critical for cytotoxicity. As albebetin was used as a carrier-protein for drug delivery, examination of amyloidogenicity is required prior polypeptide biomedical applications

Amyloid Formation by the Pro-Inflammatory S100A8/A9 Proteins in the Ageing Prostate

BACKGROUND: The conversion of soluble peptides and proteins into polymeric amyloid structures is a hallmark of many age-related degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, type II diabetes and a variety of systemic amyloidoses. We report here that amyloid formation is linked to another major age-related phenomenon--prostate tissue remodelling in middle-aged and elderly men. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By using multidisciplinary analysis of corpora amylacea inclusions in prostate glands of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer we have revealed that their major components are the amyloid forms of S100A8 and S100A9 proteins associated with numerous inflammatory conditions and types of cancer. In prostate protease rich environment the amyloids are stabilized by dystrophic calcification and lateral thickening. We have demonstrated that material closely resembling CA can be produced from S100A8/A9 in vitro under native and acidic conditions and shows the characters of amyloids. This process is facilitated by calcium or zinc, both of which are abundant in ex vivo inclusions. These observations were supported by computational analysis of the S100A8/A9 calcium-dependent aggregation propensity profiles. We found DNA and proteins from Escherichia coli in CA bodies, suggesting that their formation is likely to be associated with bacterial infection. CA inclusions were also accompanied by the activation of macrophages and by an increase in the concentration of S100A8/A9 in the surrounding tissues, indicating inflammatory reactions. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings, taken together, suggest a link between bacterial infection, inflammation and amyloid deposition of pro-inflammatory proteins S100A8/A9 in the prostate gland, such that a self-perpetuating cycle can be triggered and may increase the risk of malignancy in the ageing prostate. The results provide strong support for the prediction that the generic ability of polypeptide chains to convert into amyloids could lead to their involvement in an increasing number of otherwise apparently unrelated diseases, particularly those associated with ageing.Original Publication:Kiran Yanamandra, Oleg Alexeyev, Vladimir Zamotin, Vaibhav Srivastava, Andrei Shchukarev, Ann-Christin Brorsson, Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Thomas Vogl, Rakez Kayed, Gunnar Wingsle, Jan Olsson, Christopher M Dobson, Anders Bergh, Fredrik Elgh and Ludmilla A Morozova-Roche, Amyloid formation by the pro-inflammatory S100A8/A9 proteins in the ageing prostate., 2009, PloS one, (4), 5, e5562.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.000556

Structural studies of heterogeneous amyloid species of lysozymes and de novo protein albebetin and their cytotoxicity

A number of diseases are linked to protein folding problems which lead to the deposition of insoluble protein plaques in the brain or other organs. These diseases include prion diseases such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. The protein plaques are found to consist of amyloid fibrils - cross-beta-sheet polymers with the beta-strands arranged perpendicular to the long axis of the fibre. Studies of ex vivo fibrils and fibrils produced in vitro showed that amyloid structures possess similar tinctorial and morphological properties. These suggest that the ability to form amyloid fibrils is an inherent property of polypeptide chains. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the structural properties of cytotoxic amyloid and examine the involved mechanisms. The model proteins used in the studies were the equine and hen lysozymes and de novo designed protein albebetin. Lysozymes are naturally ubiquitous proteins. Equine lysozyme belongs to an extended family of structurally related lysozymes and α-lactalbumins and can be considered as an evolutional bridge between them. Hen lysozyme is one of the most characterized protein and its amyloidogenic properties were described earlier. De novo protein albebetin and its constructs are designed to perform the function of grafted polypeptide sequence. Fibrils of equine lysozyme are formed at acidic pH and elevated temperatures where a partially folded molten globule state is populated. We have shown that lysozyme assembles into annular and linear protofilaments in a calcium-dependent manner. We showed that albebetin and its constructs are inherently highly amyloidogenic under physiological conditions. Fibrillation proceeds via multiple pathways and includes a hierarchy of amyloid structures ranging from oligomers to protofilaments and fibrils, among which two distinct types of oligomeric intermediates were characterized. Pivotal oligomers comprise of 10-12 monomers and on-pathway amyloid-prone oligomers constitute of 26-30 molecules. We suggest that transformation of the pivotal oligomers into the amyloid-prone ones is a limiting stage in albebetin fibrillation. Cytotoxic studies of albebetin amyloid species have revealed that initial, pivotal oligomers do not effect on cell viability while amyloid-prone ones induce cell death. We suggest that oligomeric size is important for the stabilizing cross-beta-sheet core which is crucial for cell toxicity. Cytotoxic studies of both oligomers and fibrils of hen lysozyme have revealed that both species induce cell death. The amyloid sample containing cross-β-sheet oligomers induces an apoptosis-like cell death. The oligomers without cross-β-sheet appeared to be non-toxic, indicating that the stabilization of this structural pattern is critical for the induced toxicity. In contrast, the fibrils induce more rapid, necrosis-like death. These studies gained insights into a structure–function relationship of different forms of amyloid and general pathways of cell death. This is an important step in understanding the mechanisms of amyloid-associated degeneration and defining specific therapeutic targets

Immunoliposomes for detection of rupture-prone intracranial aneurysms

BackgroundIt is estimated that significant (3.2%) of population carries intracranial aneurysm (IA). An increasing number of imaging studies have caused that the chance of finding an incidental aneurysm is becoming more common. Since IA rupture causes subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) and have significant mortality and morbidity prophylactic treatment should be considered when IA is detected. The benefit and risk of treatment of IA is based on epidemiological estimate which takes account patient and aneurysm characteristics. However we know that aneurysm rupture is biological process where inflammation of aneurysm wall is actively leading to degeneration of aneurysm wall and finally weakens it until it bursts. Until now, there have not been imaging method to detect inflammatory process of aneurysm wallMethodsWe created targeting immunoliposome for use in the imaging of aneurysm. Immunoliposome comprises antibodies against at least one vascular inflammatory marker associated with aneurysm inflammation and a label and/or a contrast agent.ResultsHistological analysis of IAs where immunoliposome comprises antibodies against vascular inflammation with a label shows promising results for selectively detecting aneurysms inflammation. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we were able to detect immunoliposomes carrying gadolinium.ConclusionOur work opens a new avenue for using contrast labeled immunoliposomes for detecting rupture-prone aneurysms. Immunoliposomes can cary gadolinium and selectively bind to inflammatory section of aneurysm that can be detected with MRI. Further research is needed to develop immunoliposomes to be used with MRI in humans to target treatment to those patients who benefit from it the most.Peer reviewe